A powerful earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, followed by a series of strong aftershocks, has left a trail of destruction in western Afghanistan, resulting in a tragic loss of life. The official death toll has surged past 2,000, according to a spokesperson for the Taliban government.
The disaster struck with deadly force on Saturday, shaking the region to its core, as reported by the country’s national disaster authority. Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, revealed that the true scale of the catastrophe in Herat is even grimmer than initially feared. Approximately six villages lie in ruins, and hundreds of civilians are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. Urgent assistance is desperately needed to aid survivors and alleviate suffering.
Initially, the United Nations reported a preliminary death toll of 320, but later revised this figure, acknowledging that the situation is still evolving. Local authorities have estimated approximately 100 people dead and 500 injured, as confirmed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The report further details that 465 homes have been completely destroyed, while another 135 have sustained damage.
The UN statement emphasized the likelihood of an increase in casualties as search and rescue operations continue, with fears that some individuals may remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
#Afghanistan has just been hit by a devastating earthquake, second one in two months, killing and injuring hundreds of people.
Our thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones and homes across the Western region. pic.twitter.com/zi9gsx2dSC— World Food Programme in Afghanistan (@WFP_Afghanistan) October 8, 2023
Ravaging Tremors
Mohammad Abdullah Jan, a spokesperson for the national disaster authority, identified four villages in the Zenda Jan district of Herat province as the hardest-hit areas. The epicenter of the earthquake was situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city. Following the initial quake, the region endured three powerful aftershocks measuring 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5 on the Richter scale, alongside numerous smaller tremors.
Local resident Abdul Shakor Samadi described the horrifying experience, stating, “All people are out of their homes… Houses, offices, and shops are all empty, and there are fears of more earthquakes.” He recounted the panic that gripped his family, leading them to flee their home in fear of further structural collapses.
International Response
The World Health Organization in Afghanistan has mobilized a response team, dispatching 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan for the evacuation of casualties to nearby hospitals. The organization expressed its commitment to assisting the wounded and assessing additional needs.
As the situation unfolds, there is an urgent need for aid and support in the affected regions. Telephone lines have been disrupted in Herat, complicating efforts to gather detailed information from the disaster-stricken areas. Social media footage revealed hundreds of people gathered in the streets, seeking refuge outside their homes and offices.
Herat province shares a border with Iran, and the seismic event was also felt in nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, conveyed his condolences to the victims in Herat and Badghis.
In response to the crisis, the Taliban has called upon local organizations to promptly reach the earthquake-affected areas, with a focus on transporting the injured to hospitals, providing shelter for the displaced, and delivering vital food supplies to survivors. Security agencies have been urged to mobilize all available resources and facilities to facilitate the rescue of those trapped beneath the debris, underscoring the urgent need for collective action in the face of this tragedy.
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