Powerful earthquakes in western Afghanistan resulted in the death of at least 2,000 people, according to a statement made by a Taliban spokesperson on Sunday. This earthquake is considered to be one of the deadliest to hit the country in the past two decades.
While the figures provided by the Taliban spokesperson cannot be independently verified, if accurate, it would surpass the death toll of a previous earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan in June 2022. The previous earthquake had claimed the lives of at least 1,000 people and caused widespread destruction in a mountainous region.
The earthquake on Saturday, with a magnitude of 6.3, struck a densely populated area near Herat, Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city. It was followed by strong aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey reported that the epicenter of the quake was approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Herat city. In addition to the main quake, there were three aftershocks measuring magnitudes of 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, along with smaller tremors.
After the earthquake, people in Herat used their hands to dig out the dead and injured from the rubble. Video footage circulating online shows the dramatic moment when rescuers freed a baby girl buried under debris. The baby’s mother, who was cradling her, is seen in the video, but it is unclear if she survived. Abdul Wahid Rayan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, reported that the death toll is higher than initially reported, with many villages destroyed and hundreds of civilians trapped under debris.
As a result of the earthquake, numerous efforts have been initiated to aid the affected population. Several teams, including those from the military and organizations like the Red Crescent, have been mobilized for search and rescue operations. The United Nations migration agency has sent ambulances with medical personnel and counselors to the regional hospital, and additional mobile health teams are en route to heavily affected areas.
Doctors Without Borders has established medical tents at Herat Regional Hospital, capable of accommodating up to 80 patients, and has already treated more than 300 individuals. The Afghan Red Crescent Society is actively involved in rescue operations, with seven teams in action and more on the way from neighboring provinces. A temporary camp has been set up to provide shelter for those who have lost their homes.
The destruction caused by the earthquake is reported to be worse than initially anticipated, with entire villages flattened. Pakistan has expressed its condolences and pledged support for the recovery effort. Afghan cricket star Rashid Khan announced that he would be donating all his Cricket World Cup fees to aid the earthquake survivors in Herat. Other efforts, including fundraising campaigns, are being planned to help those in need.
Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada, also expressed condolences and sorrow over the earthquake. Due to unstable telephone connections in Herat following the disaster, obtaining specific details from affected areas has proven challenging.