Death toll from strong earthquakes in western Afghanistan rises to 2,000

Afghan residents clear debris from a damaged house after earthquake in Sarbuland village of Zendeh Jan district of Herat province on October 7,2023. Photo by Mohsen KARIMI / AFP

The aftermath of powerful earthquakes that rattled western Afghanistan has brought grim news as the death toll rises to a staggering 2,000, marking one of the deadliest seismic events to strike the country in two decades.

The initial temblor, measuring magnitude 6.3, followed by a series of potent aftershocks, wrought havoc in western Afghanistan on Saturday, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, as confirmed by the country's national disaster authority.

Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture, revealed that the death toll from the earthquake in Herat is even higher than originally reported. Approximately six villages have been obliterated, with hundreds of civilians trapped beneath the rubble. Urgent assistance is desperately needed, he emphasized.

The United Nations initially provided a preliminary estimate of 320 fatalities, although they later clarified that the figure was still undergoing verification. Local authorities, on the other hand, suggested an estimate of 100 lives lost and 500 individuals injured, as reported by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The situation remains dire, with reports suggesting that some individuals might still be trapped under collapsed structures. "Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings," the UN stated.

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According to disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan, the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and subsequent aftershocks.

The United States Geological Survey pinpointed the earthquake's epicenter approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city. It was swiftly followed by three substantial aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, along with several smaller tremors.

Residents in Herat city described the harrowing experience of enduring at least five strong tremors around noon. "All people are out of their homes," said Abdul Shakor Samadi, a resident of Herat city. "Houses, offices, and shops are all empty, and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home when I felt the quake. His family began shouting and ran outside, afraid to return indoors."

The World Health Organization in Afghanistan swiftly dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. They continue to provide critical support to the wounded and assess additional needs.

Telephone connections in Herat were disrupted, making obtaining precise information from the affected areas challenging. Videos circulating on social media depicted hundreds of people taking to the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city.

Herat province shares a border with Iran, and the earthquake's tremors were also felt in nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis, as per local media reports.

Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, extended condolences to the victims in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban issued an urgent call for local organizations to swiftly reach the earthquake-affected areas, offering assistance in transporting the injured to hospitals, providing shelter to the displaced, and delivering food to survivors. They urged security agencies to utilize all available resources to rescue those trapped under debris.

"We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers," the Taliban conveyed.

This devastating earthquake comes just over a year after a powerful tremor struck the rugged, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan in June 2022. That earthquake resulted in the flattening of stone and mud-brick homes, claiming the lives of at least 1,000 people and injuring approximately 1,500. (With inputs from Agencies)