Another powerful earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 6.3, shook northwestern Afghanistan on Wednesday...
Digital Desk: Another powerful earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 6.3, shook northwestern Afghanistan on Wednesday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The tremors were detected at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles).
Fortunately, initial reports indicate no immediate loss of life or damage to property stemming from the latest seismic event.
This seismic activity follows a devastating series of earthquakes that struck the region just days ago, northwest of the city of Herat, resulting in over 2,000 casualties and the destruction of thousands of homes. The magnitude 6.3 temblors on Saturday ranked among the deadliest worldwide this year, trailing only behind the catastrophic quakes in Turkey and Syria, which collectively claimed the lives of approximately 50,000 people.
On Tuesday, Mullah Saiq, the spokesperson for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), confirmed that the casualty count from Saturday's tremors had exceeded 4,000. Furthermore, nearly 2,000 houses in about 20 villages have been reduced to rubble.
In response to the dire situation, the United Nations' humanitarian office announced a $5 million aid package to support earthquake relief efforts in Afghanistan.
The country's healthcare system, heavily reliant on foreign aid, has been grappling with severe cuts in funding over the past two years since the Taliban assumed power as international assistance was halted. In addition to medical and food aid, survivors are now facing the pressing need for shelter as temperatures plummet, highlighting the urgent humanitarian crisis in the region, as emphasized by the World Health Organization's emergency response leader.
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