Death toll from strong earthquakes in western Afghanistan rises to 2,000

The aftermath of powerful earthquakes that rattled western Afghanistan has brought grim news as the death toll rises to a staggering 2000 marking one of the deadliest seismic events to strike the country in two decadesThe initial temblor measuring magnitude 63 followed by a series of potent aftershocks wrought havoc in western Afghanistan on Saturday leaving a trail of devastation in its wake as confirmed by the countrys national disaster authorityAbdul Wahid Rayan spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture revealed that the death toll from the earthquake in Herat is even higher than originally reported Approximately six villages have been obliterated with hundreds of civilians trapped beneath the rubble Urgent assistance is desperately needed he emphasizedThe United Nations initially provided a preliminary estimate of 320 fatalities although they later clarified that the figure was still undergoing verification Local authorities on the other hand suggested an estimate of 100 lives lost and 500 individuals injured as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsThe situation remains dire with reports suggesting that some individuals might still be trapped under collapsed structures Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings the UN statedAlso read A sea of bodies as IsraelPalestine conflict escalatesAccording to disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and subsequent aftershocksThe United States Geological Survey pinpointed the earthquakes epicenter approximately 40 kilometers 25 miles northwest of Herat city It was swiftly followed by three substantial aftershocks measuring magnitude 63 59 and 55 along with several smaller tremorsResidents in Herat city described the harrowing experience of enduring at least five strong tremors around noon All people are out of their homes said Abdul Shakor Samadi a resident of Herat city Houses offices and shops are all empty and there are fears of more earthquakes My family and I were inside our home when I felt the quake His family began shouting and ran outside afraid to return indoorsThe World Health Organization in Afghanistan swiftly dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals They continue to provide critical support to the wounded and assess additional needsTelephone connections in Herat were disrupted making obtaining precise information from the affected areas challenging Videos circulating on social media depicted hundreds of people taking to the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat cityHerat province shares a border with Iran and the earthquakes tremors were also felt in nearby Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis as per local media reportsAbdul Ghani Baradar the Talibanappointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs extended condolences to the victims in Herat and Badghis The Taliban issued an urgent call for local organizations to swiftly reach the earthquakeaffected areas offering assistance in transporting the injured to hospitals providing shelter to the displaced and delivering food to survivors They urged security agencies to utilize all available resources to rescue those trapped under debrisWe ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers the Taliban conveyedThis devastating earthquake comes just over a year after a powerful tremor struck the rugged mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan in June 2022 That earthquake resulted in the flattening of stone and mudbrick homes claiming the lives of at least 1000 people and injuring approximately 1500 With inputs from Agencies