A new article about the earthquake that struck the city of Herat, in northwest Afghanistan, has just been published on the blog. This tragic event took place last Sunday and caused the death of one person and dozens of injuries.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.3, occurred early in the morning with an epicenter located 33 kilometers from the city of Herat. The aftershocks that followed were also felt in the region. At this stage, authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage closer to the epicenter.
Those who survived the first earthquake, a week earlier, are still in a state of panic and fear, which has pushed them to sleep outside for fear of further tremors. Despite this, some residents have been forced to return to their homes, wanting to feel safe in their homes.
The death toll is still uncertain, but disaster management authorities announced the release of more than 528 prisoners in Herat and Badghis provinces. In fact, the prisons were in danger of collapsing because of the tremors. Fortunately, most of the released prisoners had already served their sentences.
In addition, nearly 20,000 people were affected by the recent earthquakes, mainly women and children. Rural villages in the Herat region, notably Zenda Jan, were devastated, leaving only ruins behind. The living conditions of the region’s inhabitants are deteriorating because they no longer have shelter as winter approaches.
This earthquake comes in an already difficult context for Afghanistan, which is facing a serious humanitarian crisis since the withdrawal of international aid following the Taliban takeover. Authorities now face the challenge of providing shelter to all who need it, despite strained relations between the new Afghan government and international aid organizations.
Afghanistan is unfortunately subject to frequent earthquakes due to its geographical position, close to the border between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. Therefore, it is essential to put in place prevention and early warning measures to minimize the damage caused by these natural disasters.
This tragedy reminds us of the importance of international solidarity and humanitarian aid in the face of such events. It is essential to support those affected and work together to rebuild devastated communities.