Tragic tolls are increasing following a series of devastating earthquakes in western Afghanistan. According to the Taliban government, more than 2,400 people lost their lives in this natural disaster, and rescue operations continue to find possible survivors buried under the rubble of destroyed villages.
The images of destruction are heartbreaking, with hundreds of homes reduced to dust. Rescuers are working around the clock to find victims of the powerful earthquakes that struck western Afghanistan. The toll continues to rise, with now more than 2,400 people dead, according to the disaster management spokesperson.
The most affected areas are around 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Herat. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake was followed by eight strong aftershocks, causing significant material and human damage. Thousands of people were injured and more than 1,300 homes were damaged or destroyed.
In the village of Sarboland, dozens of houses were completely destroyed, leaving residents with uncertainty and worry. Rescue teams are on site, trying to clear debris in search of survivors. According to the World Health Organization, more than 600 houses were destroyed or partially damaged in at least twelve villages in Herat province. A total of 4,200 people were affected by this tragedy.
The testimonies of survivors are heartbreaking. Residents say that all the houses collapsed at the first shock of the earthquake. Entire families were buried under the rubble, and some of them are still missing.
The human toll could rise further as search and rescue operations continue. The Taliban authorities are calling for international aid to deal with this disaster and help the victims.
Afghanistan is regularly affected by earthquakes, due to its geographical position close to the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet. In June 2022, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake had already killed more than a thousand people in the province of Paktika, in the southeast of the country.
This new disaster occurs in an already difficult context for Afghanistan, which is facing a humanitarian crisis since the return of the Taliban to power in 2021. We hope that the international community will be able to mobilize quickly to provide support to the victims of this earthquake. devastating.