At least 20 people have been killed and 50 others injured in the string of earthquakes, including a 6.3 magnitude quake, that rocked the city of Herat on Saturday morning.
Musa Ashari, the head of the Taliban’s disaster management department for Herat, said that 20 people were killed and 50 others were injured in the earthquake.
Sources from Herat Provincial Hospital have said more than 100 injured people have been taken to the hospital so far.
Other sources have said the casualty toll could climb due to the widespread damage to buildings and houses that has been caused.
A relatively strong earthquake, registering a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale, rocked Qala-e-Naw in central Badghis province and the city of Herat in Afghanistan on Saturday morning at 11:10 am. A second 6.3 earthquake struck four hours later, while multiple aftershocks including a 5.9 magnitude and a 5.3 magnitude were recorded Saturday, the USGS reported.
The third aftershock, of 6.3, was strong enough to be felt in neighboring countries, including Iran and Turkmenistan.
The first aftershock, measuring 5.5 in magnitude, occurred at 11:20 am at a depth of 11 kilometers in the Zinda Jan district of Herat.
The second aftershock, with a magnitude of 4.7, took place at 11:40 am at a depth of 10 kilometers in the district.
The third aftershock, striking at 11:42 am, measured 6.3 magnitude and was situated at a depth of 10 kilometers in the district.
This aftershock was powerful enough to be felt in neighboring Iran and Turkmenistan.
The fourth aftershock, occurring at 12:12 p.m., affected Herat and the neighboring provinces. This earthquake measured 5.9 on the Richter scale and was also felt in border cities of Iran and Turkmenistan.
In the wake of these seismic events, government offices in Herat, along with universities, schools, and the border customs office in Islam Qala, have been closed.
The earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks have instilled panic among the population, prompting many to evacuate their homes and seek refuge on the streets.
Reports from Herat City indicate that the power supply has been disrupted throughout the city due to the seismic activity.
So far, there have been no casualties or significant damage reported resulting from the earthquake and its aftershocks.
