Afghanistan earthquake: 6.3 quake causes 1,000 injuries and at least 120 deaths

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, 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 at our offices when the building began to tremble. Parts of the structure crumbled as the wall plaster began to fall down and the walls developed fractures. Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Herat, told AFP.

“Network connections are broken, therefore I cannot reach my relatives. It was awful, and I’m terrified and worried too much,” he continued.

According to Mosa Ashari, director of emergency management for the province, “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.”

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 at 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.

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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.

Idrees Arsala, a student, told AFP that “the situation was very horrible, I have never experienced such a thing.” After the tremors started, he was the last person to leave his classroom safely.

Herat, which is regarded as Afghanistan’s cultural centre, is situated 120 kilometres (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 of people were left homeless when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Paktika in June of last year.

BBC and AFP