At least 130 people have been poisoned in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province, sparking panic among residents and mounting health concerns.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday, September 3, in Shamsi village, located in Jaji Maidan district.
Provincial government spokesman Mustaghfir Gurbaz confirmed the development on Thursday, describing it as one of the most serious mass poisoning cases reported in the province this year.
He said medical teams were immediately dispatched to the community.
Health workers provided first aid and transferred critical cases to local hospitals for further treatment.
According to him, authorities are still assessing the full extent of the victims’ condition.
Officials have launched a detailed investigation to uncover the source of the poisoning.
While the cause remains unconfirmed, early reports suggest it could be linked to contaminated food or unsafe drinking water.
Local authorities are now testing samples from the affected area to determine whether negligence or deliberate foul play was involved.
Residents of neighboring villages have been warned to remain cautious until the findings are released.
Security forces have also been placed on alert to ensure the safety of health workers deployed to the region.
The mass poisoning highlights Afghanistan’s fragile healthcare system and poor sanitation conditions.
Many rural communities rely on untreated water sources and often lack access to reliable healthcare facilities.
As a result, outbreaks of food poisoning and waterborne diseases such as cholera are not uncommon.
In recent months, humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned about Afghanistan’s worsening health crisis.
The country has struggled with malnutrition, lack of clean water, and inadequate medical supplies due to years of conflict and limited international aid. Incidents like the one in Khost expose how vulnerable remote communities remain.
Local leaders have urged the central government in Kabul to step up support by providing emergency medical supplies and preventive measures to rural areas.
Human rights groups also called for stronger monitoring of food and water distribution networks to avoid further tragedies.
The Afghan government has pledged a thorough probe, with results expected in the coming days.
Until then, families in Khost province remain on edge, waiting for answers about how more than a hundred people suddenly fell ill in a single night.
