In a devastating turn of events, western Afghanistan was hit by two 6.3 magnitude earthquakes on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of approximately 100 individuals and leaving nearly 1,000 injured. The United Nations and various reports confirmed the staggering death toll, providing a grim overview of the situation. Tragically, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reiterated the grave loss of life caused by the tremors.
The epicenter of the earthquakes was located about 25 miles northwest of Herat city, near the border with Iran. The initial quake struck at around noon local time, with an aftershock soon following, measuring 5.5 magnitude. The impact of these seismic events was severe, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Images and videos circulated on social media, capturing the heart-wrenching scenes of flattened villages, reduced mud homes to rubble, and the somber sight of bodies covered with blankets. The residents, overwhelmed by the calamity, poured out into the streets, seeking refuge from the devastation. Makeshift hospitals were swiftly put in place to attend to the wounded.
Abdul Shakor Samadi, a resident of Herat city, described the panic and fear that gripped the affected areas. He revealed, "All people are out of their homes. Houses, offices, and shops are all empty, and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home, I felt the quake." The desperate situation prompted immediate action from the World Health Organization (WHO), which deployed 12 ambulances to Zinda Jan, a town gravely affected by the disaster. The priority was to evacuate casualties to nearby hospitals, as most of them were women and children.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which used X, formerly known as Twitter, to convey the urgent need for assistance. They stated, "As deaths & casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded & assessing additional needs." The WHO-supported ambulances were crucial in transporting the affected individuals, providing a lifeline for those in dire need.
This devastating earthquake comes just months after a powerful tremor struck eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, claiming the lives of at least 1,000 people and injuring approximately 1,500. The frequency and intensity of earthquakes in Afghanistan have been a cause for concern, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The recent quake in the western region of the country further highlights the vulnerability of its infrastructure and the urgent need for comprehensive disaster management and mitigation strategies.
The national disaster authority of Afghanistan confirmed the tragic toll of the most recent earthquakes. Mohammad Abdullah Jan, a spokesperson for the authority, reported that at least 15 individuals lost their lives, with nearly 40 others sustaining injuries. The Zenda Jan district in Herat province endured the brunt of the devastating tremors and subsequent aftershocks, which damaged dozens of houses. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the magnitude of the quakes as 6.3. The USGS further specified that the epicenter was located 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) northwest of Herat city.
Amid the chaos and destruction, communication became increasingly challenging. Telephone connections in Herat city were severely disrupted, impeding the flow of information from the affected areas. However, videos shared on social media revealed the sheer magnitude of the disaster, with hundreds of people seeking safety in the streets outside their homes and offices. The impact of the quakes reverberated beyond Herat city, reaching neighboring provinces such as Farah and Badghis, as reported by local media outlets.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the victims and their families in Herat and Badghis. This catastrophe serves as a somber reminder of the country's vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly in its mountainous regions. The need for immediate assistance, infrastructure reinforcement, and comprehensive disaster preparedness measures has become even more evident in the face of recurring seismic activities that continue to claim innocent lives.
