In the aftermath of a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Afghanistan on Saturday, the death toll has climbed to a devastating 2,400, making this one of the deadliest earthquakes to hit the country in the past two decades.
The earthquake, followed by intense aftershocks, wreaked havoc in western Afghanistan, claiming numerous lives, as reported by the country’s national disaster authority.
Abdul Wahid Rayan, the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture, revealed that the death toll from the earthquake in Herat was higher than initially reported. Tragically, six villages have been obliterated, and hundreds of civilians are trapped under the debris, necessitating urgent assistance.
In an update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, it was noted that 465 houses had been completely destroyed, with an additional 135 houses suffering varying degrees of damage. The Taliban, in light of this catastrophic event, has sought assistance from local organizations to aid in the rescue efforts and to transport the injured to hospitals.