UAE sends search and rescue teams to quake-hit Afghanistan

In line with the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has dispatched teams from the Joint Operations Command and the national Search and Rescue unit to Afghanistan to assist in relief operations following the recent earthquake in the country’s eastern region.

The teams will begin by conducting on-ground assessments with local authorities to expand the reach of rescue efforts, provide logistical support and save lives by retrieving survivors trapped under debris, according to a WAM report.

Alongside the deployment, the Emirates Red Crescent has sent urgent humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, shelter tents, and other essentials, to help families affected by the disaster.

This mission reflects the UAE’s swift humanitarian response to crises worldwide and its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities in times of need.

The deployment comes in the wake of one of Afghanistan’s deadliest earthquakes in recent years. The first tremor, a magnitude 6.0 quake, struck the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar around midnight on Sunday, causing widespread destruction.

Rescue operations were further complicated on Tuesday when a second tremor, measuring 5.5, triggered landslides and blocked access to remote villages, heightening the challenges for emergency teams.

According to the Taliban administration, the death toll has reached 1,411, with 3,124 people injured and more than 5,400 homes destroyed. The United Nations has warned that the numbers may rise further as many victims remain trapped under rubble.