Kunar Earthquake Caused Damage to Cultural Heritage Sites

‌Cultural activists in Kunar say the recent earthquake has caused serious damage to a number of historic monuments and archaeological sites in the province.

According to Haroon Sapi, a cultural activist, the towers of “Wodero Fort” in Mazar Valley collapsed during the earthquake. He warned that without urgent attention, the site could be lost entirely. The fort, which is nearly a century old, has in recent years attracted both domestic and international tourists.

“Most of Kunar’s historic sites, especially ancient monuments, have been damaged,” Sapi said. “In Mazar Valley, the walls and towers of Wodero Fort have collapsed, and other historic landmarks have also suffered destruction.”

Another cultural activist, Naveed Miakhel, stated that in the earthquake-affected areas of the province, almost no historic site has remained unharmed.

He noted that the mausoleum of “Hazrat Ghufran Baba” in Nurgal district was also damaged. Ghufran Baba was a prominent religious scholar who lived in the area around two centuries ago.

“The earthquake not only killed and injured people, but also destroyed thousands of homes and damaged historic sites,” Miakhel said. “These places were important because their history stretched back centuries, and they were major attractions for visitors.”

Meanwhile, several cultural figures are calling for the restoration of the damaged heritage sites.

Abid Sapi, another cultural activist in Kunar, said: “The destruction of historic monuments in this earthquake is unprecedented in recent years. International organizations should take immediate steps to restore these sites. If restoration does not begin soon, they will be lost — and that would be a major cultural tragedy.”

The series of earthquakes in Kunar has killed and injured thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes, and severely damaged historic monuments and archaeological sites.