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Man deported to South Sudan from US returned to Mexico | News

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South Sudan says Mexico provides assurances its national deported by the US in July would not face torture or other inhumane treatment.

South Sudan says it has repatriated to Mexico a man deported from the United States as part of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Saturday said Mexico had accepted the return of Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, one of eight men deported from the US to South Sudan on July 5 after a long-running legal battle.

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The statement added that Munoz-Gutierrez had been repatriated after being transferred to the custody of Mexican Ambassador Alejandro Estivill Castro in a “smooth and orderly” process.

South Sudan thanked Mexico for its cooperation and said it had received assurances Munoz-Gutierrez would not be subjected to “torture, inhumane or degrading treatment, or undue prosecution upon his return”.

The statement said he had been treated with “full respect for his human dignity and fundamental rights” during his stay in the capital, Juba.

The repatriation was carried out “in full accordance with relevant international law, bilateral agreements, and established diplomatic protocols”, it added.

‘Felt kidnapped’

In comments to journalists in Juba, Munoz-Gutierrez said he “felt kidnapped” when the US sent him to South Sudan.

“I was not planning to come to South Sudan, but while I was here, they treated me well,” he said. “I finished my time in the United States, and they were supposed to return me to Mexico. Instead, they wrongfully sent me to South Sudan.”

The US Department of Homeland Security has said Munoz-Gutierrez had a conviction for second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

South Sudan is discussing with other countries the repatriation of the six deportees still in its custody, said Apuk Ayuel Mayen, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry.

It is not clear if the deportees have access to legal representation. Only one of eight was from South Sudan.

Rights groups have argued that the Trump administration’s increasing practice of deporting migrants to third countries violates international law and the basic rights of migrants.

The deportations have faced opposition by courts in the US although the Supreme Court in June allowed the government to restart swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands.

Other African nations receiving deportees from the US include Uganda, Eswatini and Rwanda. Eswatini received five men with criminal backgrounds in July.

Rwanda announced the arrival of a group of seven deportees in mid-August.

Fiber cuts in Red Sea disrupt Azure cloud service, Microsoft reports

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Microsoft says Azure cloud service disrupted by fiber cuts in Red Sea

Michael Yuen, Winter Juniors Qualifier, Commits Verbally to Villanova for 2026

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By Madeline Folsom on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Michael Yuen, a Winter Juniors qualifier from Sugar Land, Texas, has sent his verbal commitment to Villanova University for the fall of 2026, and he will come in as a conference scorer.

“I’m super humbled and thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to pursue my academic and athletic career at Villanova University! First off, I’d like to thank God for blessing me with this amazing opportunity and my family for being my biggest supporters towards my endeavors. Next, I’d like to thank all my teammates and coaches, especially Coach Daniel, Coach Ben, and Coach Keogh. Lastly, I’d like to extend an immense gratitude to the coaching staff at Villanova University for making this opportunity of swimming at the Division 1 level possible. GO CATS!!! 😼✌ #novanation”

Yuen swims for First Colony Swim Team in Texas where he was a member of their Winter Juniors West team in December. At that meet, he set a new personal best leading off the 400 freestyle relay (46.22). He also went new best times in the 200 fly (1:49.14) and the 200 IM (1:51.72).

He will be a senior this year at Strake Jesuit High School which is a Texas 6A school. At the Texas State Championships in February, Yuen swam the 200 freestyle, ultimately finishing 16th with his time of 1:41.92 in the finals. He was also a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American last season.

A few weeks later, Yuen competed at the Speedo Sectionals meet in Justin, where he set a host of new personal best times en route to five different event finals in the freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and IM events.

Yuen’s SCY Best Times

  • 200 free- 1:39.51
  • 100 fly- 49.21
  • 200 fly- 1:48.82
  • 200 IM- 1:51.72

Villanova is a Division I mid-major school that competes in the Big East Conference. At the 2025 Big East Championships, the men’s team was 4th overall, just 20 points away from Seton Hall in 2nd place.

Yuen will be a difference-maker on the team, coming in as a potential ‘A’ finalist in three different events. At last season’s conference meet, he would have been 5th in the 100 and 200 fly and 7th in the 200 freestyle.

He probably won’t swim the 100 fly and 200 freestyle, as they are on the same day. He doesn’t have an exceptional 3rd event at the moment, but two ‘A’ finals swims as a freshman will be huge for Villanova who is looking to make their way up the leaderboard. He will also likely end up on the 800 freestyle relay, as his best time would have been 2nd on the team last year.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

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Read the full story on SwimSwam: Winter Juniors Qualifier Michael Yuen Sends Verbal Commitment to Villanova for 2026

16 people killed in Lisbon funicular accident, including brake guard

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Jemma Crew & Doug FaulknerBBC News

‘I’ll never take the funicular again’: Witness on moment of the crash

Portugal is reeling after 16 people died and around 20 were injured when Lisbon’s famous Glória funicular cable railway derailed on Wednesday evening.

Five of those killed were Portuguese along with three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, an American, a Ukrainian, a Swiss and a French national, police say.

Police have not yet confirmed the identities of those who died, but some have been named elsewhere. Here is what we know about them.

André Jorge Gonçalves Marques

André Jorge Gonçalves Marques (Facebook) A man in a white tee-shirt smiles at the camera.André Jorge Gonçalves Marques (Facebook)

The death of Mr Marques, who worked as the brake guard on the funicular, was reported by Portuguese transport union Sitra.

“We send our condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the accident and wish them a speedy recovery as well as the best recovery to the others injured in the accident,” the union wrote on Facebook.

He was a “dedicated, kind and happy professional, always willing to contribute to the greater good”, according to his employer Carris, which runs the funicular.

Vladimiro Santos, a childhood friend of Mr Marques, told the Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã he had grown up in the village of Sarnadas de São Simão in central Portugal, moving to Lisbon as a young man.

Mr Marques leaves behind a wife and two children, the newspaper reported.

Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade

Portuguese Volleyball Federation Pedro Trindade, a man with grey hair a black suit and white shirt with no tie, looks at the cameraPortuguese Volleyball Federation

The former volleyball referee was named as a victim of the crash by the Portuguese Volleyball Federation, which said it was “deeply saddened by the tragedy”.

Mr Trindade, it said, had served as leader of the Lisbon Volleyball Association as well as being a referee for it.

He had worked for the Santa Casa da Misericórdia organisation, the largest charity in Portugal.

In all, four Santa Casa da Misericórdia employees died in the crash while two others remained in hospital as of Friday.

Mr Trindade also worked in the village of Estoril – roughly 24km (14 miles) from Lisbon – as a guest professor at a higher education institute specialising in hospitality and tourism.

Kayleigh Smith and Will Nelson

Instagram Kayleigh Smith and Will Nelson in a selfie photograph. Both wear glasses and have dark hair. She is smiling showing her teeth and he is smiling with his mouth closed.Instagram

Theatre director Kayleigh Smith and her partner Will Nelson have been named as British victims of the Lisbon funicular crash.

MADS Theatre in Macclesfield posted a tribute on Friday night acknowledging their deaths in the tragedy, writing that Ms Smith was “a dear friend to many and will be greatly missed”.

On the morning of the crash, Ms Smith had posted a series of photos of their trip to the Portuguese capital on social media.

The UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting the families of the three British nationals who have died” and was in contact with the local authorities.

A third British victim has yet to be named.

Blandine Daux and André Bergeron

Two residents of Quebec province in Canada have been named as victims by Quebec’s culture and communications ministry.

The ministry’s Facebook page announced “with great sadness” the deaths of Mr Bergeron and Mrs Daux – “two valued members of its community”.

Both “contributed remarkably” to the archaeology-ethnology workshop at Quebec’s Centre of Conservation (CCQ), the statement said.

Mr Bergeron was “one of the pioneers” of CCQ who devoted more than 40 years to restoration before retiring in 2022. Mrs Daux had joined the team in 2001.

“Their departure leaves a huge void in the CCQ and the Ministry of Culture and Communications,” the tribute read.

Mr Bergeron’s brother, Eric, confirmed the deaths of the married couple to multiple Canadian news outlets.

Eric told CBC the pair were visiting Portugal to celebrate André’s 70th birthday.

Eric described them as “a super nice couple, they were in love, it’s heart-breaking. My brother was a happy man, they were a happy couple.”

They leave behind two daughters who are “shattered”, he said.

Heather Hall

Provided by the College of Charleston Heather Hall is seen posing for a photo in a polka dot dress and wearing sunglasses. Provided by the College of Charleston

Heather Hall has been named as a victim of the crash by the College of Charleston.

The college confirmed that she had worked at the South Carolina school for nearly two decades and had “blazed a trail as a special educator at the school”.

Ms Hall served on the disability board and was a “tireless advocate for equity, representation, and belonging,” its statement said.

“She believed deeply in the power of education to change lives, and she poured her wisdom, joy, and belief in others into her students and colleagues alike”.

Ms Hall leaves behind two children, who she “believed in with all her heart”.

Republican Senator Tim Scott wrote on X that he was “deeply saddened” by the news and that her “dedication to education and her contributions to our community will be remembered”.

Other Santa Casa da Misericórdia employees

The other employees of Santa Casa da Misericórdia who were killed have been named in Portuguese media.

Alda Matias worked at the Strategic Planning Department alongside Mr Trindade, Sandra Coelho worked in the cultural department, and Ana Paula Lopez was linked to childhood and youth projects, colleagues have told the BBC.

One employee, Valdemar Bastos, told the BBC that staff had often used the funicular, along with tourists and elderly people, rather than walking up the steep hill.

In a statement to staff, Paulo Sousa, the charity’s ombudsman, said: “It is in shock that we all find ourselves. We lost colleagues, friends, people with whom we shared our daily lives and our mission.”

Seven other deaths

Details are still emerging of the other victims.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed for the BBC Ukrainian service that a 54-year-old Ukrainian man was among the dead.

France’s foreign ministry expressed its “great sadness” following the death of a Frenchwoman.

Reuters People walk next to a railway car of the Bica FunicularReuters

Lisbon’s funiculars were suspended in the aftermath of the Gloria funicular railway car derailment and crash

The injured

On Thursday, Alvaro Santos Almeida, head of Portugal’s’ health service, said 23 people had been injured. Six of them were in intensive care and three had sustained minor wounds.

Three of those injured are Portuguese, one is German, one is South Korean, one is Swiss, one is Cape Verdean and one is Moroccan.

Spanish, Israeli, Brazilian, Italian and French nationals were also involved, he added.

A German family-of-three were also on board the funicular when it crashed, local media report.

Portuguese news outlet Observador previously reported that the father had been killed, but police clarified on Friday that a German citizen named as one of the dead was discovered alive in hospital.

The mother was said to be in a critical condition in hospital, and a three-year-old boy sustained minor injuries.

Intelligent Contact Lenses: A Glimpse into the Future

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A glance at the passengers in a subway car is enough to see that cell phones have changed how we communicate (and not communicate). However, it is also clear that the evolution of these terminals has been slowing down. While a decade ago there were qualitative leaps forward, today manufacturers announce a larger number of cameras or megapixels. Could we be on the verge of a technological breakthrough? Augmented and mixed reality and the development of new contact lenses and smart glasses suggest we are.

In this article, you will learn about the following:

 

Do you like what you see? Download the PDF here

How do smart contact lenses work?

The ultimate goal of smart contact lenses and smart glasses is to free us from the tyranny of the cell phone in our hand. This is achieved by using a non-intrusive device that performs essential computing functions. This is known as “invisible computing,” a term coined by cognitive science professor Don Norman of the University of California in the late 20th century. In this new paradigm, technology will adapt to the user’s needs and body, as with mixed reality glasses or wearables, and information will only be displayed when needed.   

To achieve this, translucent materials are being investigated that incorporate circuitry and display information on the lens substrate. Thanks to the very nature of the device, the images will accompany eye movement. It is expected that smart contact lenses will integrate this type of technology:

  • Autofocus capability
  • Wireless antenna
  • Processors
  • Sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, thermometers, etc.)
  • MicroLED or similar displays

It is still too early to tell in which direction this new generation of contact lenses will move. Still, most of the computational processing and data storage will possibly take place on other devices such as cell phones or even in the cloud.

This type of research has been underway for several years. In fact, Google announced in 2014 that it would develop a smart contact lens to measure glucose levels, but the project did not come to fruition. Then came Google Glass, which was not very well received either. Apple is rumored to be planning augmented reality glasses that would go virtually unnoticed. For now, however, it seems that no one has managed to hit the mark. But that could happen soon. 

A first working prototype of a smart contact lens

A U.S. manufacturer has just announced that it has completed its first working prototype of a smart lens. The new device is a “scleral” lens, i.e. it covers the entire eye and not just the pupil and iris. According to its developers, they have successfully integrated the display, communications systems, and battery into a tiny convex sheet. The first generation will display monochrome images with 14,000 pixels per inch density.  

Apart from the hardware, another breakthrough is developing the operating system and user interface (UX), allowing new applications and use cases to be tested with partners and consumers. The conjunction of the software and the integrated hardware solution will enable the technology to be tested in real-world scenarios over the coming months and years.  

The initial goal of the new contact lenses is to offer a vision enhancement system to help people with partial blindness distinguish items such as road signs. However, they are also evaluating partnerships with sports shoe manufacturers and fitness companies, as applications promise to increase exponentially.

Main applications of smart contact lenses

Everything suggests that the first application of smart contact lenses will be to display basic data such as the boarding gate number at the airport, the distance of an object, or the number of steps in a training session. Later, if the technology catches on, we may see things like this:

  • Dynamic focus. The lenses will detect whether the wearer is reading a nearby text or looking at an object in the distance and focus automatically.
  • Health monitoring, thanks to the measurement of glucose, eye pressure, or eye temperature. In the future, these lenses may even be able to detect tumor markers.
  • Augmented and mixed reality. As soon as contact lenses can display complex images and modulate their opacity level, a user will be able to see virtual objects.
  • Basic applications such as compasses, map directions, or calendar reminders are now constrained to the cell phone or computer.
  • Medication administration for the treatment of diseases such as glaucoma.

For these applications and many others that are still unknown to us to become a reality, major scientific and technological breakthroughs in the miniaturization of batteries, processors and circuits will be needed. It will also be necessary to improve the ergonomics of contact lenses so that they can be worn comfortably throughout the day. Who knows if one day you will read an article like this one about smart contact lenses. Just in case, you can subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page.  

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AI predicted by Geoffrey Hinton to lead to significant job loss and increased profits.

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Pioneering computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, whose work has earned him a Nobel Prize and the moniker “godfather of AI,” said artificial intelligence will spark a surge in unemployment and profits.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times, the former Google scientist cleared the air about why he left the tech giant, raised alarms on potential threats from AI, and revealed how he uses the technology. But he also predicted who the winners and losers will be.

“What’s actually going to happen is rich people are going to use AI to replace workers,” Hinton said. “It’s going to create massive unemployment and a huge rise in profits. It will make a few people much richer and most people poorer. That’s not AI’s fault, that is the capitalist system.”

That echos comments he gave to Fortune last month, when he said AI companies are more concerned with short-term profits than the long-term consequences of the technology.

For now, layoffs haven’t spiked, but evidence is mounting that AI is shrinking opportunities, especially at the entry level where recent college graduates start their careers.

A survey from the New York Fed found that companies using AI are much more likely to retrain their employees than fire them, though layoffs are expected to rise in the coming months.

Hinton said earlier that healthcare is the one industry that will be safe from the potential jobs armageddon.

“If you could make doctors five times as efficient, we could all have five times as much health care for the same price,” he explained on the Diary of a CEO YouTube series in June. “There’s almost no limit to how much health care people can absorb—[patients] always want more health care if there’s no cost to it.”

Still, Hinton believes that jobs that perform mundane tasks will be taken over by AI, while sparing some jobs that require a high level of skill.

In his interview with the FT, he also dismissed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s idea to pay a universal basic income as AI disrupts the economy and reduce demand for workers, saying it “won’t deal with human dignity” and the value people derive from having jobs.

Hinton has long warned about the dangers of AI without guardrails, estimating a 10% to 20% chance of the technology wiping out humans after the development of superintelligence.

In his view, the dangers of AI fall into two categories: the risk the technology itself poses to the future of humanity, and the consequences of AI being manipulated by people with bad intent.

In his FT interview, he warned AI could help someone build a bioweapon and lamented the Trump administration’s unwillingness to regulate AI more closely, while China is taking the threat more seriously. But he also acknowledged potential upside from AI amid its immense possibilities and uncertainties.

“We don’t know what is going to happen, we have no idea, and people who tell you what is going to happen are just being silly,” Hinton said. “We are at a point in history where something amazing is happening, and it may be amazingly good, and it may be amazingly bad. We can make guesses, but things aren’t going to stay like they are.”

Meanwhile, he told the FT how he uses AI in his own life, saying OpenAI’s ChatGPT is his product of choice. While he mostly uses the chatbot for research, Hinton revealed that a former girlfriend used ChatGPT “to tell me what a rat I was” during their breakup.

“She got the chatbot to explain how awful my behavior was and gave it to me. I didn’t think I had been a rat, so it didn’t make me feel too bad . . . I met somebody I liked more, you know how it goes,” he quipped.

Hinton also explained why he left Google in 2023. While media reports have said he quit so he could speak more freely about the dangers of AI, the 77-year-old Nobel laureate denied that was the reason.

“I left because I was 75, I could no longer program as well as I used to, and there’s a lot of stuff on Netflix I haven’t had a chance to watch,” he said. “I had worked very hard for 55 years, and I felt it was time to retire . . . And I thought, since I am leaving anyway, I could talk about the risks.”

Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Apply for an invitation.

London Police Charge Over 300 Pro-Palestinian Protesters with Terrorism

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new video loaded: At Least 300 Pro-Palestinian Protesters Charged With Terrorism in London

transcript

transcript

At Least 300 Pro-Palestinian Protesters Charged With Terrorism in London

They were demonstrating in support of Palestine Action, an activist group that the British government designated a terrorist organization in July.

Shame on you.

Big Machine Label Group strengthens global team during 20th anniversary celebration in Nashville

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Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) has revealed a series of promotions and a new hire within its international division.

Alex Hannaby, Iren Coutiel, Roxanne Gwillam-Kelly, and Flo Myerscough-Harris have taken on elevated roles, with Cary Dal-Lago joining as the newest team member.

In the press release announcing the news, BMLG noted that the all-female team will continue to lead the label’s international efforts across key markets, including the UK, Australia, and beyond.

The news marks the continued expansion of the HYBE America-owned company, which has also recently been recruiting for a Director, Business & Legal Affairs and Director, Audience Development in Nashville.

The expansion of the International team also marks a significant milestone as the company celebrates its 20th Anniversary and 10 years since the launch of Big Machine UK.

Recently elevated to include VP, International Marketing & Operations, in addition to her role as Head of UK, Alex Hannaby has been instrumental in accelerating BMLG’s global expansion while significantly boosting the UK’s role in its international success, achieving consistent growth in revenue under her leadership.

Hannaby also devised and coordinated the launch of the UK’s first official Country music radio chart – an industry-first that elevated the genre’s visibility across the region.

In just the past 18 months, Hannaby and her team have driven BMLG singles from artists like Riley Green, Thomas Rhett, and Jackson Dean to No.1 on Country radio in the UK and Australia.

Their strategic campaigns have led to notable achievements including Carly Pearce’s sold-out UK tour and upcoming performance at the Opry 100, as well as Dolly Parton’s career-best debut for Rockstar, which landed Top 5 chart positions in both the UK and Australia.

“This next phase of advancement and collaboration allows us to build on the momentum we’ve created and unlock even more opportunities for our roster around the world.”

Alex Hannaby

“I’m thrilled to take on this expanded role as Big Machine continues to grow internationally,” said Hannaby.

“It’s an exciting next chapter, and I’m looking forward to continuing to champion our incredible artists on a global scale. This next phase of advancement and collaboration allows us to build on the momentum we’ve created and unlock even more opportunities for our roster around the world.”

Elsewhere, in the International team, Senior International Digital & Commercial Manager Iren Coutiel started her career as a label intern with BMLG in 2017.

In her expanded role, she will now lead content strategy, influencer marketing, advertising, D2C initiatives, and DSPs across all international markets, driving the label’s global presence and digital growth.

Scott Borchetta

“From the onset of Big Machine Records, a global focus was a must, and our UK-based team has led the way in building the Country format, not only in the UK, but all across Europe.”

Scott Borchetta, BMLG

International Marketing & Promotions Manager Roxanne Gwillam-Kelly, meanwhile, has played a key role in BMLG’s International department for more than four years, leading what BMLG calls “innovative, globally focused campaigns”.

Her expanded responsibilities include overseeing projects in the UK and beyond.

After joining BMLG in 2021, International Marketing & Promotions Manager Flo Myerscough-Harris expands her role from overseeing select projects in the UK to include other international territories.

BMLG’s latest addition to the international team, International Label Intern Cary Dal-Lago, brings “a global perspective to her work,” according to BMLG.

A recent graduate of the University of Westminster with a Master’s in Music Business Management, she previously spent her time creating concert-focused content at Your Culture, capturing live performances, and curating engaging visuals for social media. Dal-Lago will assist on all global BMLG projects moving forward.

“From the onset of Big Machine Records, a global focus was a must, and our UK-based team has led the way in building the Country format, not only in the UK, but all across Europe,” added BMLG Founder, Chairman & CEO Scott Borchetta.

“They consistently find new ways to expand our footprint and drive revenue with incredible passion, execution and creativity!”


Founded in 2005 by Borchetta, BMLG was acquired by Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in 2019. The entirety of Ithaca, including BMLG and Braun’s SB Projects, was then acquired by South Korea’s HYBE in a $1.05 billion deal in 2021.

Today, Big Machine Label Group encompasses Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, and publishing company Big Machine Music.

The BMLG artist roster includes Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, Thomas Rhett, Mötley Crüe, Rascal Flatts, Lady A, Riley Green, Carly Pearce, Justin Moore, Brett Young, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Midland, RaeLynn, Jackson Dean, and Aaron Lewis; plus rising talents Braedon Barnhill, Caroline Jones, and Chase McDaniel.

It also includes Cole Goodwin, Greylan James, LECADE, Mackenzie Carpenter, Marfa, Mae Estes, Noah Hicks, Preston Cooper, Ryan Hurd, Shaylen, Something Out West, The Cadillac Three and The Jack Wharff Band.Music Business Worldwide

Survivors in Afghanistan face challenges following devastating earthquake

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In the mountains of southeast Afghanistan, whole villages have been reduced to piles of stone and mud.

Nearly one week after a devastating earthquake struck Kunar province, residents are mourning their families and figuring out how they can possibly survive, having lost everything.

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A magnitude 6.0 tremor struck the remote mountainous region last weekend, killing more than 2,200 people.

“The victims face only two choices, to leave, or die,” Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem reported from Kunar province, the epicentre of the quake.

Following the earthquake, strong aftershocks were reported on Friday, injuring at least 10, and raising fears of more death and destruction.

Survivor Gul Rahim from Kunar province lost 63 members of his family in the quake, including his five-year-old daughter Fatima.

A man tries to clear rubble of a collapsed house in Mazar Dara, Kunar province, Afghanistan [File: Hedayat Shah/AP Photo]

“We were asleep at home when, at midnight, the earthquake struck. All the houses collapsed and everyone was screaming,” he told Al Jazeera, sitting on the ruins of his home, with several bags of whatever belongings he could recover.

“I managed to get out, but my youngest daughter was trapped inside, crying, ‘Father, get me out of here!” By the time we reached her, she had passed away,” he said, his voice trembling with grief.

“She was my youngest and most beloved daughter.”

Rahim said another 100 or so of his neighbours were killed in the quake.

“The dead and injured were countless. The earthquake was terrifying, and leads people to despair,” he added.

The majority of victims are from Kunar province, where most people live in wood and mud-brick homes built along steep river valleys surrounded by towering mountains.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said as of September 3, at least 6,700 homes have been destroyed.

Rahim told Al Jazeera he was now living in a tent, and was worried about winter approaching as the area receives “heavy snowfall”.

“What we need most are proper homes to survive the cold,” he said. “I call on the whole world, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to help us. We have lost everything, even our livestock and chickens. Nothing remains.”

Rescue efforts continue

Treacherous roads, relentless aftershocks and limited aid mean many communities remain cut off.

“Getting here was a harrowing experience,” recounted Al Jazeera’s Hashem. “We were driving for hours on winding cliffside roads, with aftershocks shaking the ground beneath us until we finally made it.

While rescue workers were “working around the clock” in search of survivors, hope was fading, Hashem said. “The official death toll isn’t final, with so many still missing, the number will most certainly rise,” he noted.

WHO has said landslides and blocked roads have obstructed relief work. The organisation has appealed for $4m in funds to provide “life-saving health interventions” coupled with supporting “water, sanitation, and hygiene activities” for residents.

“They need food assistance, safety, and medicine for the children,” volunteer Abdulrahman Sharafat told Al Jazeera.

Afghanistan is prone to powerful earthquakes because it sits where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. In October 2023, the western province of Herat experienced a magnitude 6.0 earthquake, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths.

A year earlier, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the eastern provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, and Nangarhar, killing about 1,000 people.