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KABUL – The death toll from a series of powerful earthquakes that rocked western Afghanistan has surged to over 2,000, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Taliban government on Sunday. This seismic catastrophe ranks among the deadliest to strike the nation in the past two decades.
The initial quake, registering a formidable magnitude of 6.3, unleashed a wave of destruction, followed by relentless aftershocks. These tremors, as reported by the country’s national disaster authority, led to the loss of dozens of lives in western Afghanistan on Saturday.
Startlingly, Abdul Wahid Rayan, the spokesperson at the Ministry of Information and Culture, disclosed that the death toll from the earthquake in Herat is even higher than initially reported. Approximately six villages have been reduced to rubble, with hundreds of civilians tragically buried beneath the debris. Rayan urgently called for assistance in the face of this dire situation.
The United Nations initially reported approximately 320 casualties, but later clarified that this figure was still under verification. Local authorities, in alignment with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, estimated around 100 lives lost and 500 individuals injured. The update also highlighted the destruction of 465 homes, with an additional 135 structures suffering damage.
The U.N. emphasized that the number of casualties is likely to rise as search and rescue operations persist, with reports of individuals trapped under collapsed buildings.
According to Mohammad Abdullah Jan, the spokesperson for the disaster authority, the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks.
The United States Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter of the quake approximately 25 miles northwest of Herat city. It was followed by three substantial aftershocks, measuring magnitudes of 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, along with numerous smaller tremors. Residents of Herat city experienced at least five significant tremors, forcing them to evacuate homes and workplaces due to fears of further earthquakes.
The World Health Organization in Afghanistan swiftly dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan for the evacuation of casualties to hospitals. They also reiterated their commitment to assisting the wounded and assessing additional needs as the situation unfolds.
The breakdown of telephone connections in Herat has hindered efforts to gather detailed information from affected areas. Videos circulating on social media depict hundreds of people taking to the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city.
Adjacent to Iran, Herat province shares a border with the quake-affected region. Reports suggest that the tremors were also felt in nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the victims in Herat and Badghis. The Taliban has urgently appealed to local organizations to provide immediate assistance to the earthquake-stricken areas. They called upon security agencies to utilize all available resources and facilities for the rescue of those trapped under debris.
In a heartfelt plea, the Taliban asked their more affluent compatriots to extend their support and aid to their afflicted brethren during this trying time.
Our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan as they grapple with the aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.
