A strong earthquake that struck western Afghanistan, close to the Iranian border, is believed to have killed hundreds of people and injured at least 1,000 more. At around 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT), a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck roughly 40km from the western city of Herat.
There were at least three strong aftershocks and numerous damaged buildings that trapped individuals under debris. Those who survived reported how terrified they were as the office buildings rocked and eventually crashed all around them.
“We were in our offices, and suddenly the building started shaking. Wall plaster started to fall down, and the walls got cracks; some walls and parts of the building collapsed. I am not able to contact my family; my network connections are disconnected. I am too worried and scared; it was horrifying.” Herat resident Bashir Ahmad said this to the news agency AFP.
“So far, more than 1,000 injured women, children, and elderly citizens have been included in our records, and about 120 people have lost their lives.” The province’s disaster management chief, Mosa Ashari, told reporters.
Although initial reports put the death toll at 15, it was always anticipated to grow once emergency personnel verified the full extent of the extensive damage. Unverified accounts place the death toll above 300.
A hint of the unexpected and overwhelming demand for emergency care was seen in video footage purportedly from Herat Central Hospital, which showed multiple casualties being treated on the asphalt outside the main building while connected to portable intravenous drips.
Other moving images depict scenes of destruction in Herat’s Injil area, where the obstruction of roadways by the debris of demolished houses hampered rescue efforts.
Herat, which is regarded as Afghanistan’s cultural center, is situated 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the country’s border with Iran. According to 2019 World Bank estimates, the province is thought to be home to 1.9 million people.
Due to its proximity to the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, Afghanistan experiences earthquakes often, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain region.
More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were left homeless when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Paktika in June of last year.