Afghanistan has been hit by a series of devastating earthquakes that have resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 people. The Taliban administration confirmed the death toll on Sunday, marking one of the deadliest seismic events in the world this year.
The earthquakes struck on Saturday in the western region of the country, approximately 35 km (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat. The most powerful of these tremors registered a magnitude of 6.3, causing widespread damage and loss of life.
Janan Sayeeq, spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters, provided a grim update on the situation. According to Sayeeq, the earthquakes have resulted in 2,053 fatalities and left 9,240 injured. Additionally, more than 1,320 houses have been damaged or completely destroyed.
These recent quakes follow a year already marked by significant seismic activity worldwide. Earlier this year, tremors in Turkey and Syria claimed an estimated 50,000 lives in February alone.
The neighboring countries and international community has expressed its condolences and support for Afghanistan in this difficult time. Aid agencies are mobilizing resources to provide emergency relief and assistance to those affected by this disaster.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.