In western Afghanistan, just days after two significant earthquakes in the same region claimed the lives of over 1,000 people, another powerful earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck at approximately 05:10 local time (00:40 GMT) on Wednesday. This recent seismic event occurred 28 kilometers north of Herat, causing over 100 injuries and necessitating hospitalization, according to health officials.
The full extent of the latest earthquake’s impact remains uncertain, as many residents found themselves sleeping in the open due to their homes being destroyed by the previous earthquake. Aid organizations are reporting a shortage of essential supplies such as blankets and food.
An eyewitness from central Herat, where some buildings remain intact, described her terrifying experience, saying that she woke up in a state of panic and fled her home. “I was in a deep slumber because I hadn’t had restful sleep in the days leading up to this. I’ve never felt so close to death,” she shared. She also mentioned that she rushed barefoot to the city’s outskirts, where many had been residing in tents since the initial quake.
The Afghanistan earthquake on Saturday morning struck the rural district of Zindajan, approximately 40 kilometers from Herat. Images from the affected villages depict entire houses, unable to withstand the tremors, reduced to rubble.
Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, due to its proximity to the intersection of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.