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Over 2,000 killed, more injured in twin Afghan earthquakes More than 2,000 killed, more injured in twin Afghan earthquakes
(about 3 hours later)
Two 6.3-magnitude quakes have struck western Herat Province, with over 2,000 dead and many more injured or displaced Tremors of up to 6.3 magnitude hit the west of the country on Saturday, with the WHO saying the death toll is likely to rise
Western Afghanistan has been shaken by two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes that struck within around 30 minutes of each other, leaving over 2,000 dead and many more injured, as well as damaging 600 homes.
The twin quakes occurred on Saturday morning west of Herat City and killed around 320 people, according to an unconfirmed estimate cited by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan. More than 2,000 people have perished and over 9,000 sustained injuries in western Afghanistan following a series of powerful earthquakes on Saturday, Taliban authorities have said. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the death toll is likely to rise as rescuers clear the rubble.
“Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings,” the OCHA said. The deaths occurred in eight villages across Herat and Zenda Jan provinces. Twin quakes struck within around 30 minutes of each other on Saturday morning, 35km (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat. These were followed by several significant aftershocks. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), at least one of the quakes reached 6.3 magnitude.
Thousands of families have been displaced by the earthquakes. An estimated 300 families were taken to Herat City, where they took shelter in abandoned buildings, according to the OCHA. Hundreds of injured villagers were receiving emergency trauma care at the provincial hospital in Herat City. During a press conference on Sunday, Janan Sayeeq, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Disasters put the number of fatalities at 2,053, with another 9,240 individuals injured. The official also said that at least 1,320 households had been damaged or destroyed. According to Sayeeq, ten rescue teams are currently working in the affected areas.
There were a number of significant aftershocks in the region, including one that measured 5.9 in magnitude and another that was recorded at 5.5. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan reported that at least eight villages across Herat and Zenda Jan provinces had been affected by the natural disaster. Humanitarian workers also warned that the number of casualties is liable to increase.
“All people are out of their homes,” Herat City resident Abdul Shakor Samadi told the Associated Press. “Houses, offices and shops are all empty, and there are fears of more earthquakes.” He said his family had run outside when the initial quake began and were afraid to go back indoors. The OCHA estimated that thousands of families have been displaced by the earthquake, with approximately 300 taken to Herat City, where they took shelter in abandoned buildings.
The Afghan earthquakes struck on the same day that 6.9- and 6.7-magnitude quakes hit in Papua New Guinea, and a 5.9-magnitude quake shook southern Mexico. There were no reports of major casualties in Papua New Guinea or Mexico. Reuters, citing a Herat health department official, reported that there were many women and children among the victims, with local authorities scrambling to arrange additional beds in hospitals amid a flow of injured people.
Saturday’s earthquakes in western Afghanistan were similar in magnitude to a quake that struck last year near the country’s southeastern border with Pakistan. The 2022 earthquake killed more than 1,000 people and injured around 1,500, making it Afghanistan’s deadliest such disaster in decades. The Associated Press quoted a Herat resident as saying that panic reigned in the city, with people afraid to return to their homes for fear of more aftershocks.
Earthquakes are often deadly in Afghanistan because of the poor structural quality of the country’s stone and mud-brick homes. Last year, a powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan’s southeastern regions bordering Pakistan. The tremors claimed more than 1,000 lives and injured around 1,500.
 
The mountainous country is no stranger to earthquakes, which are made even more deadly by the generally poor quality of its buildings, many of which consist of simple stone and mud-brick structures.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system is also largely reliant on foreign aid, which has been waning considerably since the Taliban took over the country back in 2021.