Western Afghanistan has been struck by a new earthquake, just days after two significant tremors in the region claimed the lives of over 1,000 people. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred near the city of Herat and had a depth of 6.3 kilometers (approximately four miles).
As of now, there have been no reports of casualties associated with this latest earthquake. However, the previous earthquakes had a devastating impact, with more than 90% of the victims being women and children, as reported by UNICEF, the United Nations’ children agency.
The USGS indicated that the epicenter of the recent tremor was located 30 kilometers northwest of Herat, which is Afghanistan’s third-largest city, situated near the Iranian border. The earthquakes from several days ago had struck the rural district of Zindajan, approximately 40 kilometers from Herat. These quakes resulted in the destruction of fragile houses and prompted villagers to search for missing individuals using shovels and their bare hands.
Afghanistan has faced significant challenges, including an economic crisis, following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, which led to the cessation of aid directly to the government. The country is susceptible to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, as it is situated near the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
In June of the previous year, the province of Paktika experienced a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
