Several intense earthquakes have devastated entire villages, leading to the entrapment of families and rendering thousands of people homeless.
The western province of Herat in Afghanistan has experienced another seismic blow, this time with a magnitude 6.3 earthquake. This marks the third significant earthquake to hit the region, following the devastating quakes on October 7 that claimed the lives of over 2,000 people.
These consecutive earthquakes have resulted in the complete destruction of entire villages, burying families beneath the rubble and leaving thousands without shelter just as the harsh winter season approaches.
Residents in Herat, the capital of the eponymous Afghan province, had only recently started returning to their homes after enduring nights of sleeping outdoors, fearful of potential aftershocks. The most recent earthquake struck at approximately 8 am (02:30 GMT) on a Sunday.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter of this quake was located 33 kilometers (21 miles) northwest of Herat City. Save the Children reported that four individuals lost their lives, and Herat Regional Hospital treated 153 injured individuals. In the Baloch area of Rabat Sangi district, structures collapsed, and several villages were devastated, as per the aid organization’s assessment, although local authorities provided lower casualty figures.
Sayed Kazim Rafiqi, a 42-year-old resident of Herat, expressed his shock at the extensive devastation, noting that a significant number of houses were damaged, leaving the local population in a state of fear and distress. Several intense earthquakes
Rafiqi and several others rushed to the hospital to provide vital blood donations, recognizing the urgent need for assistance. “We must contribute in any way we can,” he emphasized.
The western province of Herat in Afghanistan has been hit with a magnitude 6.3 earthquake – its third since powerful quakes on October 7 killed more than 2,000 people.
The series of quakes has levelled whole villages, burying families and leaving thousands homeless as winter approaches.