In Islamabad, a formidable 6.3 magnitude earthquake jolted western Afghanistan on Sunday, occurring just slightly more than a week after a series of powerful quakes and aftershocks claimed the lives of thousands and laid waste to entire villages in the very same region.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the most recent quake had its epicenter approximately 34 kilometers (21 miles) outside of Herat, the provincial capital, and struck at a depth of just eight kilometers (five miles) beneath the Earth’s surface.
The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders reported that two fatalities had been confirmed, and Herat Regional Hospital received more than 100 individuals who sustained injuries during Sunday’s seismic event.
Mohammad Zahir Noorzai, who leads the emergency relief team in Herat Province, confirmed the unfortunate loss of one life and reported that nearly 150 individuals had sustained injuries. He expressed concern that the number of casualties could increase as they had not yet reached all the affected areas.
Sayed Kazim Rafiqi, a 42-year-old resident of Herat city, shared his shock at the extensive devastation, noting that most houses were damaged and that the population was gripped by fear. In response, Mr. Rafiqi and several others made their way to the hospital to donate much-needed blood.
He emphasized the collective commitment to assisting in any way possible, stating, “We have to help in any way possible.”
On October 7, a series of earthquakes wreaked havoc, leveling entire villages in Herat, marking one of the most catastrophic seismic events in the country’s recent history.
Tragically, over 90 percent of the victims from a week ago were reported to be women and children, according to U.N. officials.
Taliban representatives disclosed that the earlier earthquakes claimed the lives of over 2,000 people across the province, with the epicenter situated in the Zenda Jan district. This area saw the grim toll of 1,294 fatalities, 1,688 injuries, and complete destruction of every residence, as per U.N. statistics.
The initial quake, coupled with numerous aftershocks and a subsequent 6.3-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, flattened villages and reduced hundreds of mud-brick homes to rubble, unable to withstand such force. Schools, healthcare facilities, and other essential infrastructure in these villages also succumbed to the destructive power of these tremors. magnitude earthquake jolted western
In the wake of this devastation, little remained in the dusty hills of these villages beyond debris and the somber procession of funerals. Survivors grapple with the loss of multiple family members, and in many areas, volunteers far outnumber the remaining residents as they search through the wreckage and undertake the grim task of digging mass graves.