An earthquake in the western Afghanistan province of Herat, followed by strong aftershocks, left at least 100 people dead and over 500 injured on Saturday.
According to the United States Geological Survey, which tracks earthquakes worldwide, an earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale, struck around 40 kilometres northwest of Herat city on Saturday afternoon. The earthquake was recorded to have struck at a depth of 14 kilometres.
The quake was strong enough to force people into the streets of the city.
The quake was followed by a milder aftershock of 5.5 magnitude with a total of eight aftershocks recorded. The USGS map showed seven earthquakes in Herat, with at least five hitting the city in the early afternoon. Apart from the aftershock with the magnitude of 5.5. one of the aftershocks measured 6.3 and another measured 5.9 on the Richter Scale.
The quakes were strong enough to be felt in the neighbouring Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis.
Afghanistan's national disaster management authority said that four villages in the Zenda Jan district were the worst hit where mud houses collapsed. As many as 12 villages in Zenda Jan and adjoining Ghoryam District were affected. Villages in Gulran, Kushak-e-Rabat Sanghi districts were also affected.
The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Afghanistan said it had dispatched 12 ambulances to Zenda Jan to help evacuate casualties to hospitals.
As deaths & casualties from the #earthquake in #Herat, @Afghanistan continue to be reported, @WHO Teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded & assessing additional needs. @WHO-supported ambulances are transporting those affected, most of them women and children. pic.twitter.com/UoDoG7nPa2
— WHO Afghanistan (@WHOAfghanistan) October 7, 2023
Moreover, some 600 houses were either partially or fully damaged as a result of the earthquakes, affecting some 4,200 residents. Around 1,400 became internally displaced people (IDPs) after they completely lost their homes.