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A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake, followed by a series of strong aftershocks, has struck western Afghanistan, resulting in...
Digital Desk: A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake, followed by a series of strong aftershocks, has struck western Afghanistan, resulting in a rising death toll that now stands at a staggering 2,060. This disaster, which unfolded on Saturday, marks one of the deadliest earthquakes to have shaken the country in the last twenty years.
The devastation was initially reported by Afghanistan's national disaster authority, which confirmed dozens of casualties in the wake of the initial quake. However, Abdul Wahid Rayan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture, revealed that the situation in Herat was graver than initially estimated. Six villages have been obliterated, and hundreds of civilians remain trapped under the rubble. Urgent aid is desperately needed to assist with rescue efforts and provide assistance to survivors.
Initially, the United Nations provided a preliminary death toll of 320, but it was later stated that the numbers were still being verified. Local authorities updated the figures to approximately 100 people killed and 500 injured, as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Alongside the human toll, 465 houses have been destroyed, and an additional 135 have sustained damage.
The UN emphasized that the casualty count may continue to rise as search and rescue missions are ongoing, with reports of individuals possibly trapped in collapsed buildings.
Mohammad Abdullah Jan, a spokesperson for the disaster authority, disclosed that four villages in Herat province's Zenda Jan district bore the brunt of the quake and subsequent aftershocks.
The United States Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter of the earthquake about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city. Following the main quake, three powerful aftershocks measuring magnitudes 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5 struck, along with several smaller tremors.
Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi described the chaos that ensued, saying, "All people are out of their homes…Houses, offices, and shops are all empty, and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home; I felt the quake." His family, gripped by fear, rushed outside and refrained from returning indoors.
The World Health Organization in Afghanistan immediately dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to nearby hospitals. The agency's statement on social media platform X expressed their commitment to assisting the wounded and assessing additional needs.
As a result of the earthquake, telephone connections in Herat were disrupted, making it challenging to gather information from the affected areas. Videos circulating on social media platforms depicted hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city, seeking refuge from the tremors.
Notably, Herat province shares a border with Iran, and the quake's impact was also felt in nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis, according to local media reports.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, offered his condolences to the victims in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban urged local organizations to swiftly reach the earthquake-affected areas, providing essential medical aid, shelter for the displaced, and food for survivors. They called upon security agencies to employ all available resources to rescue individuals trapped beneath debris.
In addition to local efforts, the Taliban appealed to "wealthy compatriots" to offer their support to those affected by the disaster.
Japan's ambassador to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada, expressed his condolences via the social media platform X, stating that he was "deeply grieved and saddened to learn the news of the earthquake in Herat province."
This catastrophic earthquake comes just over a year after a powerful quake struck eastern Afghanistan, leaving devastation in its wake, including over 1,000 fatalities and approximately 1,500 injured. The recent disaster underscores the vulnerability of Afghanistan to seismic activity, prompting calls for continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of such natural disasters.
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