KABUL: Death toll from the powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 that struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, jumped to 120, according to disaster relief authorities. Over 1,000 individuals are receiving treatment for injuries in the aftermath of the quake.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat, the largest city in the region. This seismic event was followed by eight aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 4.3 to 6.3.
Mosa Ashari, the head of disaster management in Herat province, stated, “So far, more than 1,000 injured women, children, and elderly citizens have been recorded, and about 120 people have lost their lives.”
The earthquake prompted residents in Herat to flee buildings as the tremors began. Many described scenes of falling wall plaster, cracked walls, and collapsed structures. Communication networks were disrupted, leaving people anxious and unable to contact their families.
Earthquake Aftershocks in Afghanistan
Aftershocks continued for hours, causing residents to remain outside, away from tall buildings, due to fears of further structural damage.
Mullah Jan Sayeq, a spokesman for the disaster management authority, warned that the fatality count was expected to rise significantly, with some areas suffering total collapse and people still trapped beneath rubble.
The USGS initially reported the earthquake’s magnitude as 6.2, with a shallow depth of only 14 kilometers.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has already been dire due to the withdrawal of foreign aid and the return of the Taliban to power in 2021, making this earthquake a further challenge for the country to address. Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates converge.
