AT LEAST 15 people have died and 40 are injured following earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Two 6.3-magnitude quakes hit western Afghanistan on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey.
AFPAt least 40 people died in the earthquakes[/caption]
It is understood the epicentre was about 25 miles northwest of the city of Herat and was followed by a 5.5-magnitude aftershock.
A spokesperson for Afghanistan’s ministry of disaster management explained the figures were based on early reports from the Zinda Jan district of Herat province.
Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said: “All people are out of their homes. Houses, offices and shops are all empty and there are fears of more earthquakes.
“Me and my family were inside our home, I felt the quake.”
He added his family ran outside and were afraid to go back in.
The USGS stated: “The October 7, 2023 M (magnitude) 6.3 earthquake near Herat, Afghanistan, occurred as the result of thrust faulting at shallow depths near the far western terminus of the Hindu Kush mountain range.”
It said the earthquake came about 30 minutes after another 6.3-magnitude earthquake.
The USGS continued: “Both earthquakes occurred on east-west striking fault planes that dip to either the north or south. The earthquakes occurred within the Eurasia plate in an intracontinental mountain belt.”
A map showed seven earthquakes in the region, including a 5.9-magnitude earthquake 21.7 miles north-northwest of Herat, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake 20.5 miles north-north-east of Zindah Jan and a 6.3-magnitude earthquake 18 miles north-north-east of Zindah Jan, or 26 miles west of Herat city.
Images on social media showed the aftermath of the earthquakes, including broken parts of the famous Masjid Jami mosque.
Former Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “I am deeply grieved by the #earthquake that shook our country, especially #Herat province, where four of our compatriots lost their lives and 100 were wounded.
“I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”
There was no immediate comment from Taliban government officials on estimated casualties or damage.
WHO Afghanistan said 12 ambulance cars were re-directed to Herat’s Zindah Jan district, believed to be the epicentre, to help evacuate causalities and transport them to hospital.
They stated: “@WHO trauma team is on alert and they are working with trauma doctors at Herat Regional Hospital.”
Earthquakes in Afghanistan are common, according to the USGS.
Seven other earthquakes with a magnitude of six or higher have occurred within 250km of Saturday’s earthquake since 1920, all within Iran.
They included a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in May 1997 that caused 1,567 fatalities and a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in November 1979.
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