In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a series of powerful earthquakes has unleashed devastation upon western Afghanistan, exacting a heavy toll on human life and property.
The United Nations, while initially reporting a death toll of 320, is diligently verifying these numbers. Local authorities have conservatively estimated that approximately 100 souls have tragically perished in the wake of these seismic upheavals, with a staggering 500 individuals suffering injuries, as per updates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The initial quake, boasting a magnitude of 6.3, had its epicenter located a mere 24.8 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Herat, the region’s largest city. Shortly thereafter, a formidable aftershock, registering at a magnitude of 5.5, jolted the region, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
As the tremors commenced around 11 a.m., an exodus of residents fled their imperiled buildings, seeking refuge from the relentless temblors that persisted for over an hour. Reports of landslides and individuals trapped beneath the rubble have further compounded the catastrophe.
Bashir Ahmad, a 45-year-old Herat resident, recounted the harrowing experience, saying, “We were in our offices, and suddenly the building started shaking. Wall plasters started to fall down, and the walls developed cracks, some walls and parts of the building collapsed. I am not able to contact my family; network connections are disconnected. I am too worried and scared; it was horrifying.”
In the aftermath of the initial quake, women and children congregated in the expansive streets, far removed from towering edifices, bracing for further seismic upheavals.
A preliminary report from the USGS underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “Significant casualties are likely, and the disaster is potentially widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response.”
The USGS website highlighted a constellation of seven earthquakes in the region, including a magnitude 5.9 earthquake situated 21.7 miles north-northwest of Herat, a pair of 6.3 magnitude quakes located 20.5 miles north-northeast of Zindah Jan, and another 6.3 magnitude earthquake positioned 18 miles north-northeast of Zindah Jan, approximately 26 miles west of Herat city.
Presently, inhabitants have vacated their residences en masse, and a cloud of apprehension lingers as fears of additional seismic events persist.
At the time of reporting, there has been no official response from Taliban government officials regarding potential casualties or damage. Furthermore, the disruption of telephone connections has posed significant challenges in obtaining precise details from the affected areas. Social media outlets have been awash with videos depicting hundreds of people spilling into the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city.
Notably, Herat province shares a border with Iran, and the tremors reverberated through the neighboring provinces of Farah and Badghis, as attested by local media accounts.
The scars of a powerful earthquake in June 2022, which struck a rugged, mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan, remain etched in memory. That cataclysmic event claimed the lives of at least 1,000 individuals and left approximately 1,500 others injured, ranking it as Afghanistan’s deadliest earthquake in two decades.
Afghanistan’s geographical proximity to the Hindu Kush mountain range, a volatile juncture of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, renders it susceptible to frequent seismic activity.
The tragic earthquake strikes come at a time when Afghanistan is already ensnared in a protracted humanitarian crisis, compounded by the dwindling foreign aid following the return of the Taliban to power in 2021.
