Powerful earthquake rocks Afghanistan: Hundreds feared dead, over 1,000 injured

A devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 has struck western Afghanistan, close to the Iranian border, leading to fears of extensive casualties. The quake, which occurred at approximately 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT), was centered around 40km from the western city of Herat.

The impact of the earthquake has been significant, causing severe damage to numerous buildings and trapping people beneath the rubble. In the aftermath of the initial quake, the region experienced three powerful aftershocks, further escalating the crisis.

Survivors recount their harrowing experiences as office buildings trembled and crumbled around them. Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Herat, described the scene, saying, "We were in our offices, and suddenly the building started shaking. Wall plaster started to fall down, and the walls got cracks; some walls and parts of the building collapsed." He added, "I am not able to contact my family; network connections are disconnected. I am too worried and scared; it was horrifying."

Mosa Ashari, the chief of the province's disaster management, reported, "So far more than 1,000 injured women, children, and elderly citizens have been included in our records, and about 120 people have lost their lives." Initial reports indicated 15 casualties, but it was anticipated that this number would rise as emergency responders assessed the extent of the widespread devastation. Unconfirmed reports even suggested that the current death toll exceeded 300.

Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded at Herat Central Hospital, where video footage showed numerous injured individuals receiving treatment on the hospital's grounds, connected to portable intravenous drips. This illustrated the urgent need for emergency care in the wake of the disaster.

In Herat's Injil district, footage depicted a landscape of destruction, with the rubble of collapsed buildings obstructing roads and impeding rescue efforts. "The situation was very horrible; I have never experienced such a thing," shared student Idrees Arsala, who managed to safely evacuate his classroom during the earthquakes.

Herat, known as the cultural capital of Afghanistan, lies approximately 120km (75 miles) east of the Iranian border and is home to an estimated 1.9 million people, according to 2019 World Bank data.

Afghanistan is no stranger to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where it sits near the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In June of the previous year, a 5.9 magnitude quake struck the province of Paktika, resulting in the loss of over 1,000 lives and leaving tens of thousands homeless.