8-10-2023 (HERAT) Western Afghanistan was struck by a powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake, followed by strong aftershocks, resulting in one of the deadliest earthquakes to hit the country in two decades. The death toll from the disaster has risen to 2,000, as confirmed by a Taliban spokesperson on Sunday.
The quake, with its epicenter about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city, caused widespread destruction. Several villages in the Zenda Jan district of Herat province bore the brunt of the earthquake and its aftershocks. Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan reported that at least four villages in the area suffered significant damage.
Initial estimates of the casualties varied, with the United Nations initially providing a figure of 320 dead, which was later revised to a preliminary estimate as rescue efforts were ongoing. Local authorities indicated around 100 people killed and 500 injured, with 465 houses reported as destroyed and 135 others damaged.
The situation on the ground remains grim, with the number of casualties expected to rise further as search and rescue operations continue. Reports suggest that some individuals may still be trapped under collapsed buildings.
Abdul Wahid Rayan, the spokesman of the Ministry of Information and Culture, revealed that the death toll was higher than originally reported. He also highlighted the destruction of approximately six villages, with hundreds of civilians trapped under the debris. Urgent assistance is urgently needed to address the dire situation.
Residents of Herat city experienced the relentless series of tremors, with at least five strong aftershocks striking the city around noon. Fearful of further earthquakes, people left their homes, offices, and shops, leaving the city’s streets empty.
The World Health Organization in Afghanistan swiftly dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. These efforts are aimed at providing essential medical support to the wounded and assessing additional needs.
Telephone connections in Herat were disrupted, making it challenging to obtain details from affected areas. Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of people congregating in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city.
The quake’s impact extended beyond Herat, with reports indicating that it was felt in the nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis. The region’s proximity to the border with Iran amplified the seismic event’s reach.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the victims in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban called on local organizations to expedite their response to the affected areas, offering assistance in evacuating the injured to hospitals, providing shelter for those left homeless, and delivering essential food supplies to survivors. They also called upon security agencies to utilize all available resources to rescue individuals trapped under debris.
Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada, expressed his condolences through social media, expressing deep sorrow upon learning of the earthquake’s impact in Herat province.
This calamity serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability to seismic activity that Afghanistan faces. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan, resulting in the collapse of stone and mud-brick homes. The earthquake claimed the lives of at least 1,000 people and left approximately 1,500 injured.
