On Wednesday, a powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan's Herat province in the west, necessitating the reassignment of relief and rescue teams already responding to a series of fatal quakes on the previous Saturday. While there were no immediate reports of casualties, hundreds of homes were reported destroyed, as per provincial officials.
Herat's governor's office described certain areas as experiencing "huge losses" without providing specifics. Medical teams and officials have been working together to transport injured individuals to hospitals, as mentioned in a statement from the governor's office.
The earthquakes on the previous Saturday, according to the Taliban-run government, resulted in at least 2,400 fatalities and more than 2,000 injuries, making them among the deadliest in the world this year. The majority of the victims were women and children, according to the World Health Organization.
The German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) reported that the latest earthquake had a magnitude of 6.3 and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Afghanistan is prone to strong earthquakes, particularly in the rugged Hindu Kush region near the Pakistan border. Herat province shares a border with Iran, which has pledged to provide humanitarian assistance.
Governor Noor Ahmad Shahab reported that at least 200 homes were partially or completely destroyed in the central district of Rubat Sangi, an area previously affected by Saturday's earthquakes. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far, as many villagers had already been sleeping outdoors or in tents due to the earlier quakes.
However, the survivors are facing urgent needs for aid, especially as the colder autumn weather sets in, according to Shahab. Relief and rescue efforts have been challenged by war-damaged infrastructure and a reduction in foreign aid since the Taliban assumed power, impacting the country's healthcare system and economy.
The European Union has committed 2.5 million euros to humanitarian partners to aid relief efforts and has also offered shelter kits, winter tents, and hygiene kits, among other relief supplies. Additionally, countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and China have pledged assistance, and the United Nations' humanitarian office has allocated $5 million for aid in the region.
