A powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake rattled western Afghanistan, striking fear into the hearts of residents who were just beginning to recover from a previous seismic disaster that killed over thousands of people a couple of days ago.
The quake, which struck the city of Herat and its surrounding areas, claimed one life and left over 90 people injured, adding to the toll of destruction that has haunted the region.
Residents of Herat, still reeling from the trauma of recent tremors, had just started returning to their homes when disaster struck again.
The quake hit just after 8:00 am local time, catching many off guard. The epicenter was located 33 kilometers northwest of Herat city.
A series of aftershocks, measuring 5.4 and 4.2 in magnitude, were followed deepening the sense of dread among the populace.
Official sources at Herat Regional Hospital, confirmed the toll: “Ninety-three injured and one casualty have been registered so far.”
The National Disaster Management officials are still assessing the extent of the destruction caused by the latest quake, adding to the misery of a region where entire villages have been flattened and more than 1,000 lives lost in a series of seismic events this month.
The most recent earthquake struck in the early hours of the day, sparing many lives.
Muhammad Fazlullah told the foreign media that if the earthquake had happened in night time, the devastation would have been unimaginable. Thanks to the Almighty that it struck in day when people were not sleeping, he added.
This devastating event follows closely on the heels of a magnitude 6.3 quake that shook the same region just days ago, on October 7. The earlier quake, along with eight powerful aftershocks, had already claimed over 1,000 lives and left hundreds more injured. Tragically, over 90% of the casualties were women and children, as their homes collapsed under the tremors.
The rural Zinda Jan district bore the brunt of the destruction, with at least six villages completely flattened, leaving more than 12,000 people in dire need of assistance. The terror of aftershocks haunts the survivors, many of whom have lost entire families.
Afghanistan, a country prone to earthquakes due to the shifting tectonic plates, faces a daunting challenge in providing shelter and support to the displaced. Most rural homes in the affected areas are made of mud and wood, lacking the necessary reinforcement to withstand such natural disasters.
Moreover, the recent return of the Taliban to power has strained international aid efforts, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The cold weather further compounds the challenges faced by the affected residents, making temporary shelter a pressing necessity.
