Tragedy Strikes Afghanistan: Potent Earthquake Claims Thousands, Highlights Fragile Infrastructure
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a powerful earthquake shook the already-vulnerable terrain of Afghanistan, leaving behind a devastating aftermath. The Taliban announced on Sunday that the seismic activities, which were the strongest witnessed in years in the quake-prone mountainous nation, have claimed the lives of over 2,400 individuals.
Afghanistan earthquake deaths rise to 2,445-Image Source: Sky News
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the tremors, which struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, was located 35 kilometers northwest of Herat city. The quake registered a significant 6.3 on the Richter scale. These tremors rank among the deadliest worldwide this year, following closely behind the February quakes in Turkey and Syria that resulted in approximately 50,000 fatalities.
Jenan Sayiq, the spokesperson for the Disaster Ministry, initially reported more than 9,240 injuries but later revised this number to “over 2,000”. He further confirmed the destruction or damage to 1,320 homes. The Red Crescent’s earlier death toll count stood at 500 on Sunday morning. Remarkably, ten rescue teams are currently active in the region bordering Iran.
More than 2,000 people have died after a powerful #earthquake struck western #Afghanistan the Taliban said, as the nation reels from another quake at a time of deep economic crisis. #HamasTerrorists #Palestine#Israel_under_attack #IsraelPalestineWar #IStandWithIsrael #Gaza pic.twitter.com/UKkb8HrMbK
— Breaking News Worldwide (@FelizKarenP1) October 8, 2023
In Herat, health official Dr. Danish reported the arrival of over 200 bodies at various hospitals, with the majority being women and children. He mentioned that the bodies have been transferred to several locations, including military bases and medical facilities.
Social media channels have been inundated with distressing images, some of which showcase preparations outside Herat’s primary hospital to accommodate the overwhelming number of casualties. Sohail Shaheen, the head of the Taliban’s Political Office in Qatar, has reached out to the media, highlighting the desperate need for essentials such as food, drinking water, medications, clothing, and tents to support the ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Moreover, there were shared pictures that show damages to minarets in Herat that date back to the medieval times, with noticeable cracks.
Afghanistan’s history with powerful earthquakes is not unknown, particularly in the rugged Hindu Kush region near the Pakistan border. The casualty count often surges in remote regions of a country already grappling with deteriorating infrastructure, further compounded by prolonged conflicts and challenges in orchestrating timely rescue and relief operations.
