Powerful Earthquakes Strike Western Afghanistan, Killing At Least 100 People
According to the United Nations, at least 100 people were killed and 500 were injured as severe earthquakes rocked western Afghanistan on Saturday.
The US Geological Survey reported two 6.3 magnitude earthquakes in Herat, as well as several severe aftershocks. One of the aftershocks had a magnitude of 5.9.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan, the original earthquake struck 40 kilometers west of Herat at around 11 a.m. local time. It was felt in the nearby provinces of Badghis and Farah.
“Initial assessments indicate that as many as 100 people have been killed across eight villages in Zindajan Province, Herat Province … with a further 500 people injured,” the agency said in a statement, adding that “unconfirmed reports suggest this figure may be closer to 320 people.”Additionally, you can also read about- Ten Countries Flooded in 12 Days: Is This the Future of Climate Change?
According to the organization, the calamity has affected 4,200 people, or approximately 600 families, with 465 dwellings destroyed and 135 damaged. According to the report, Mahal Wadakha is the worst-affected village.
“Partners and local authorities expect the number of casualties to rise as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped beneath collapsed buildings,” stated the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan National accident Management Authority said that at least 15 persons were killed and 40 were injured in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority said that a number of residences in Herat Province had been fully or partially damaged, and that search and rescue efforts were underway.
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On social media, the World Health Organization in Afghanistan said it was sending medical supplies to hospitals and ambulances to evacuate people “as deaths & casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported.”
During the response, the UN organization published photographs of healthcare professionals treating victims outside.
UNICEF Afghanistan also stated that it was on the ground with other United Nations agencies “to assess the full impact.”
“Once again, children and families in Afghanistan have been affected by a devastating earthquake, this time in western Herat province,” wrote UNICEF Afghanistan on social media.
Last year, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border, killing at least 1,000 people and injuring another 1,500.
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