Month: September 2025

Rescue operations were still underway Monday after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan ate Sunday night, destroying several villages and killing at least 812 people, with at least 2,500 more injured

According to Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, most of the victims were reported in Kunar province, though authorities also confirmed 12 deaths and 255 injuries in neighboring Nangarhar. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the magnitude 6.0 quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. local time (3:17 p.m. Eastern), with its epicenter located about 17 miles east-northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province. The earthquake was shallow, just five miles below the surface—making the impact more destructive.

Taliban officials added that among the worst-hit areas are Nurgal and Siringal in Kunar Province, as well as several villages in Shaman District, which have been completely destroyed. Darr-e-Nur in Nangarhar Province has also sustained significant damage.

Throughout the night, the region was rocked by multiple aftershocks. One of the strongest, a shallow 5.2-magnitude tremor, struck shortly after 4 a.m., further shaking communities already reeling from the initial quake, according to USGS data. The initial tremor was powerful enough to make buildings sway for several seconds as far away as Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, about 230 miles from the epicenter.

Dr. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesman for the Taliban government’s Health Ministry, said the toll was likely to rise as search and rescue work continued, noting that “several villages have been completely destroyed.” Medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital Kabul have arrived in the area, said Zaman.

The U.N. said on X that it had rescue teams on the ground “delivering emergency assistance & lifesaving support.” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on social media that the U.N. would “spare no effort to assist those in need in the affected areas. I stand in full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan after the devastating earthquake that hit the country earlier today. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”

For Homa Nadir, the Deputy Head of the Red Crescent in Afghanistan, said that 200 Taliban soldiers were deployed to assist in retrieving survivors, with helicopters and 30 ambulances were also being used in the rescue operations.

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The House Oversight Committee has officially withdrawn its request for former special counsel Robert Mueller to testify before the panel regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, after receiving information about his health.

A committee spokesperson told ABC News: “We’ve learned that Mr. Mueller has health issues that preclude him from being able to testify. The Committee has withdrawn its subpoena.”

Mueller’s family told The New York Times in a statement that the 81-year-old has been battling Parkinson’s disease, prohibiting him from coming before Congress: “Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021. He retired from the practice of law at the end of that year. He taught at his law school alma mater during the fall of both 2021 and 2022, and he retired at the end of 2022. His family asks that his privacy be respected.”

Mueller, who gained national attention for leading the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race and released his long-awaited report in March 2019, previously served as FBI director for 12 years.  The subpoena had been issued last month as part of a broader push to gather testimony from former Justice Department officials and others. Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer noted in an August 5 letter that Mueller’s role as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 overlapped with investigations into Epstein, making his insights potentially valuable. Comer directed Mueller to appear for a deposition on September 2.

The decision to withdraw comes amid renewed scrutiny over documents tied to Epstein. The Justice Department recently released findings from an internal review, concluding there was no evidence of a so-called “client list” or proof that Epstein blackmailed influential figures. Still, the issue has fueled public debate, with some calling for more openness while sparking division within former President Trump’s political base.

In late August, the administration also made public transcripts of a two-day interview with Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Additionally, the Oversight Committee has announced plans to release certain Epstein-related files it obtained from the Justice Department, with sensitive details redacted.

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