- Powerful earthquake hits western Afghanistan.
- High death toll expected.
- Rescue efforts underway.
In western Afghanistan, near the Iranian border, a powerful earthquake has left hundreds presumed dead.
As more details emerge from rural areas, the death toll is expected to rise, with some estimates from a Taliban government department suggesting it could exceed 2,000.
On Saturday, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake devastated at least twelve villages near the city of Herat.
Sudden and intense aftershocks added to the terror as survivors described structures collapsing around them.
Throughout the night, rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate survivors trapped under debris.
In a nation where hospitals struggle to treat the injured, many have been left with injuries. Additional organizations, including the United Nations, have begun sending emergency supplies.
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At 11:30 GMT on Saturday, an earthquake struck approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat.
Clay constructions characterise the worst-affected isolated settlements. “Every single house collapsed at the moment of the first tremor,” said Bashir Ahmad, a Herat resident with family in one of the villages.
“Those inside the houses were buried,” he continued. “There are families we have heard no news from.”
A Taliban minister of public health is in Herat to assess the extent of the damage. WHO reports at least 465 homes destroyed.
Herat Central Hospital captured footage of patients connected to intravenous drips needing treatment outside the main building, indicating the sudden and overwhelming demand for emergency care.
More photographs show rubble-blocking roadways in Herat’s Injil area, delaying rescue efforts.
“I have never encountered such a dreadful situation before,” said student Idrees Arsala. His classroom was the last to be successfully evacuated following the earthquakes.
Afghanistan’s cultural centre is Herat, 75 miles (120 kilometres) east of Iran. The province has an estimated population of 1.9 million people.
Afghanistan frequently experiences seismic activity, with the Hindu Kush mountain range particularly susceptible due to its proximity to the boundary between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
In June of last year, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the province of Paktika, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties and the destruction of over a thousand structures.
