In Chahak, Afghanistan, a subsequent powerful earthquake struck on Wednesday morning, following a prior one that resulted in the tragic loss of over 2,000 lives and the devastation of entire villages in Herat province, marking one of the most destructive seismic events in the nation’s recent history.
The earthquake on Wednesday registered a magnitude of 6.3 and occurred approximately 28 kilometers (17 miles) outside Herat, the provincial capital, with a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. This latest quake triggered a landslide that obstructed the main Herat-Torghondi highway, a situation detailed by Information Ministry spokesperson Abdul Wahid Rayan.
Doctors Without Borders, also recognized by its French acronym MSF, disclosed that Herat regional hospital received 117 injured individuals in the aftermath of Wednesday’s tremor. In response, the organization dispatched additional medical resources to the hospital and initiated the setup of four additional medical tents at the facility.
“Our teams are actively engaged in prioritizing emergency cases and providing care for patients who have been stabilized within the medical tents,” MSF reported on their social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter).
On Wednesday, a powerful earthquake devastated Chahak village, reducing all 700 homes to mounds of soil, a stark contrast to its untouched status during previous tremors. Remarkably, no fatalities have been reported in Chahak thus far. This is attributed to the vigilant precautionary measures taken by the villagers, who have sought refuge in tents throughout the week, apprehensive of the ongoing seismic activity in Herat.
The villagers are overwhelmed by the loss of their homes and livestock, which often represented their sole possessions. Their concerns mount as they contemplate the impending harsh winter months. For many, this earthquake was an unprecedented experience, leaving them uncertain about when the ground’s unsettling tremors would cease. most destructive seismic events
Inside the tents, the villagers find it hard to attain peace of mind, plagued by the persistent fear that the earth might unexpectedly open up and swallow them whole. The epicenter of the Saturday earthquake, which shared the same magnitude of 6.3, was situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the provincial capital. The region has continued to experience strong aftershocks, compounding the anxiety and distress of the local population.