Kabul - A devastating series of powerful earthquakes has struck Afghanistan, leaving a trail of destruction and tragedy in their wake. The Taliban administration reported on Sunday that the quakes have claimed the lives of over 2,000 people and injured more than 9,000 others, marking one of the deadliest seismic events the nation has faced in recent years.
The confusion surrounding the disaster deepened as the death toll surged from the initial report of 500 casualties provided by a Red Crescent spokesperson on Sunday morning and 16 reported from Saturday night. The epicenter of the earthquakes was located approximately 35 km (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, with one registering a magnitude of 6.3, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Mullah Janan Sayeeq, the spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters, conveyed to Reuters that a staggering 2,053 people had lost their lives, while 9,240 were injured. Furthermore, 1,329 houses were either damaged or completely destroyed as a result of the quakes.
A Herat health department official, identified as Dr. Danish, disclosed that more than 200 bodies had been brought to various hospitals, with the majority of the deceased being women and children. The grim task of dealing with the casualties required distributing bodies to different locations, including military bases and hospitals.
The earthquakes unleashed panic in Herat, as described by resident Naseema on Saturday, who reported that "People left their houses, we all are on the streets." She added that the city continued to experience aftershocks. Some estimates even suggest a much higher death toll than officially reported.
The 6.3 magnitude quake wreaked havoc on at least 12 villages near Herat on Saturday, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Survivors recounted their terrifying ordeals as buildings crumbled around them, and rescue workers heroically labored through the night in a desperate search for survivors buried beneath the rubble.
The catastrophe has overwhelmed the already limited medical facilities in Afghanistan. Hospitals are struggling to provide care for the numerous injured, prompting urgent efforts from organizations like the United Nations to rush in emergency supplies.
The initial earthquake struck approximately 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Herat around 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT) on Saturday.
Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Herat, recounted the moment, 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 expressed profound concern for his family's safety, emphasizing the sheer horror of the experience.
The Taliban's public health minister is visiting Herat to assess the full extent of the impact, as the nation grapples with the immense tragedy brought about by these catastrophic earthquakes.