In the province of Herat, Western Afghanistan, a seismic event of magnitude 6.3, marking the third such incident in recent weeks, claimed the lives of two individuals, compelling residents to flee their homes. Commencing on October 7, a series of potent earthquakes have relentlessly shaken Herat province, resulting in the devastation of entire villages, the tragic entombment of families, and rendering thousands of people homeless just as winter approaches.
For the citizens of Herat city, the provincial capital, the travails began to subside, prompting their gradual return to their homes after enduring nights under the open sky, their sleep disrupted by the fear of looming aftershocks. Yet, at approximately 8 a.m. on a fateful Sunday, another seismic upheaval struck the region, intensifying the agony. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported two additional casualties and a staggering 154 injuries at the Herat regional hospital, necessitating outdoor treatment under gazebos and the transportation of patients on stretchers.
The situation has become exceedingly precarious, with the Afghanistan Programme Head of MSF, Yahya Kalilah, expressing concerns over the psychological trauma and panic gripping the population. The most recent earthquake had its epicenter situated 33 kilometers northwest of Herat city, triggering aftershocks with magnitudes of 5.4, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
Authorities took the prudent step of releasing more than 528 prisoners from Herat province and its neighboring Badghis province, as correctional facilities faced the ominous threat of structural collapse due to the seismic damage. These releases included inmates who had completed significant portions of their sentences and displayed signs of rehabilitation.
National disaster management officials have initiated an investigation into the extent of the damage inflicted by Sunday’s earthquake. MSF official Kalilah expressed the belief that casualties would remain relatively low, given that the majority of residents in the afflicted areas had already been residing outdoors since the previous week’s earthquake had laid waste to their homes.
Residents have resorted to desperate measures to escape the harrowing ordeal, with many seeking refuge in neighboring provinces or with relatives, while those without such options have been forced to spend their nights on the streets and in public parks.
Reflecting on the timing of the latest earthquake, Herat city shopkeeper Hamid Nizami considered it a “blessing” that the event occurred during daylight hours, when most people were awake and alert.
The series of seismic events began with a 6.3 tremor on October 7, followed by eight powerful aftershocks, resulting in the decimation of rural villages northwest of Herat city. The Taliban government reported a casualty figure exceeding 1,000 individuals, while the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the estimate to nearly 1,400 by the late hours of the preceding Saturday.
In the aftermath, another earthquake of similar intensity claimed one life and left 130 individuals injured, as dedicated volunteers engaged in desperate search and rescue efforts. The WHO has documented nearly 20,000 people affected by this string of calamities, with women and children constituting the majority of the victims.
Tragically, thousands of residents now inhabit the remains of their homes, where entire families met their demise in an instant. The relentless aftershocks have left them in a perpetual state of anxiety and fear, as lamented by the WHO.
