The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that more than 120 individuals were injured following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Herat province on Sunday.
In response to the disaster, these injured victims were swiftly transported to Herat Regional Hospital, while others were taken to various medical facilities within the city, the organization said.
The quake’s epicenter was located in the Zinda Jan district, amplifying the challenges that the region has been grappling with due to seismic activity in the preceding week.
This latest powerful earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, occurred in Afghanistan’s western Herat province on Sunday, sending residents into a state of panic. The US Geological Survey (USGS) pinpointed the earthquake’s epicenter just 34 km from Herat city, with a shallow depth of only 8 km. Multiple aftershocks followed the initial quake, intensifying the distress of Herat residents.
Furthermore, the quake’s effects reached neighboring Iranian cities, including Mashhad and Torbat-e-Jam.
These seismic events unfolded in the wake of a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Saturday, October 7, and a similar magnitude quake on Wednesday, October 11. The intervening period witnessed a series of aftershocks, many of which registered over 5.0 magnitude on the Richter scale.
The cumulative impact of these tremors has resulted in a tragic toll: more than 1,000 fatalities and over 2,400 individuals injured. Entire villages were flattened, leaving thousands homeless.
As of Sunday, no immediate casualties or damages have been reported. Survivors, particularly those from the Zindajan district, which bore the brunt of the initial earthquake, remain gripped by fear and uncertainty. Displaced from their homes and having lost all their possessions, these devastated families now reside in tents provided by humanitarian organizations.
An extensive relief effort is currently underway in the area, with numerous aid agencies and medical teams operating on the ground to provide essential assistance.
