Again, Afghanistan Hit by Third Earthquake in a Week
In a seismic event, western Afghanistan has been struck by another earthquake, just days after two major tremors claimed the lives of over 1,000 people in the region.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred near the city of Herat, with the epicenter situated at a depth of 6.3 kilometers (approximately four miles).
Local health authorities, as gathered by Excel Magazine International, have confirmed one fatality, while the World Health Organization indicates that more than 100 individuals are currently receiving medical treatment at the regional hospital.
Disturbingly, it was revealed that over 90% of the victims in the previous earthquakes were women and children, according to the United Nations Children’s Agency, UNICEF.
The USGS stated that the epicenter of this most recent tremor was located 30 kilometers northwest of Herat, Afghanistan’s third-largest city, positioned near the Iranian border.
The earlier earthquake, which occurred last Saturday, struck Zindajan, a rural district about 40 kilometers from Herat, causing widespread destruction to fragile buildings.
In the aftermath of the quake, villagers came together to search for missing individuals using shovels and their bare hands.
Yahya Kalilah, the head of Médecins Sans Frontières Afghanistan Programme, revealed that casualty numbers may be relatively low, as many people were already sleeping outdoors in tents.
Kalilah also pointed out the psychological trauma and fear gripping the affected population, emphasizing the prevailing sense of insecurity.
He mentioned, “People are not feeling safe. I will assure you 100%, no one will sleep in their house.”
Afghanistan, due to its location near the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, is frequently struck by earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range.
In a tragic occurrence last year, the province of Paktika was hit by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake, resulting in the loss of over 1,000 lives and leaving tens of thousands without shelter.
