A recent earthquake has struck western Afghanistan; occurring just days after two major tremors in the area claimed the lives of over 1,000 people.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), this latest quake had a magnitude of 6.3 and struck near the city of Herat.
It originated at a depth of 6.3 km (around four miles). Local health authorities have confirmed at least one fatality, and the World Health Organization has reported that about 100 individuals are receiving treatment for injuries at the regional hospital.
The previous earthquakes resulted in a tragic loss of life, with over 90% of the victims being women and children, as noted by UNICEF, the UN’s children agency.
The recent earthquake’s epicenter was situated 30 km northwest of Herat, which is Afghanistan’s third-largest city and close to the Iranian border.
The earthquakes that occurred last Saturday affected the rural district of Zindajan, located approximately 40 km from Herat.
The tremors caused fragile houses to collapse into rubble, leading to a frantic search for missing persons by villagers using shovels and their bare hands.
Yahya Kalilah, the head of the Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) Afghanistan Programme, mentioned that the number of casualties was likely to be lower because people were already sleeping outside in tents.
However, the psychological trauma has left people feeling panicked and unsafe, and they are unlikely to return to their houses for a while.
Given the onset of cold weather and the ongoing rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2021, living in tents for an extended period may prove challenging for the affected population.
The country has been grappling with an economic crisis since the Taliban’s takeover, resulting in the cessation of direct aid to the government.
Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, as it is located near the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
In June of the previous year, the province of Paktika experienced a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
Source-BBC
