KABUL: An earthquake measuring 6.3 at the Richter scale struck western Afghanistan on early Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said.
The quake took place at a shallow depth at around 05:10 am local time (00:40 GMT), with an epicenter about 29 kilometres north of Herat.
Notable quake, preliminary info: M 6.3 – 28 km NNW of Herāt, Afghanistan https://t.co/uIPpxcmo6K
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) October 11, 2023
A series of powerful earthquakes struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction and despair. According to the United Nations, more than 12,000 people from approximately 1,700 families were impacted. In 11 villages of the Zenda Jan district, “100 percent” of homes were destroyed.
Earlier the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) team in Afghanistan Dr. Alaa Abouzeid said that women and children were the two-thirds of the victims of the recent earthquake in Afghanistan.
Read Also: Afghan Earthquake Survivors Face Grim Winter Amidst Destruction and Humanitarian Crisis
Afghanistan is located in an earthquake-prone region, has seen different devastating earthquakes in the past. The aftermath of the recent disaster has left the nation grappling with not just the immediate loss but also the long-term challenges of reconstruction and rehabilitation amidst ongoing hardships.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system is dependent on foreign assistance has faced heavy cuts in the two years since the Taliban took over the country.
The UN’s humanitarian office has committed US $5 million worth of financial assistance for the quake response.
