A Taliban government representative spoke on the sudden and devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake that hit western Afghanistan near Herat City on Saturday, October 7, killing over 2,000 people. It is said that this earthquake is one of the deadliest to hit the country in over twenty years.
The earthquake’s epicenter was about 40 kilometers northwest of Herat and was followed by three very strong aftershocks measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5 as well as lesser shocks. This devastating event has resulted in at least 2,000 casualties and many more injured and displaced according to a Taliban government representative on Sunday, October 8.
The destruction is said to be much worse than initially feared with entire villages flattened and hundreds buried under debris with no access to shovels or equipment for rescue efforts.
More than 2500 people are killed in earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan. People are digging out dead bodies of women and children with their bare hands. The US, that had occupied the country 20 years to ‘Civilize’ it, has gone missing! pic.twitter.com/210F6TY72d
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) October 8, 2023
The devastation caused by this natural disaster is immense and heartbreaking with villages being destroyed, hundreds of civilians buried under debris, buildings crumbled to the ground, survivors trapped beneath them with dust-covered faces – it paints an incredibly grim picture that can barely be put into words.
In addition to that, a video shared online showed rescuers freeing a baby girl who was buried up to her neck in debris from a collapsed building – her mother’s hand cradling her torso while they eased her out of the ground however it is not clear if the mother survived or not.
????|Heart breaking footage from Afghanistan's Herat earthquakes victims.#Afghanistan #HelpHerat #earthquakes #Taliban_times pic.twitter.com/etizou4VJd
— The Taliban Times (@Taliban_times) October 8, 2023
Fortunately help has started pouring in from all sides – military teams have been dispatched for rescue efforts alongside nonprofit organizations such as Red Crescent and Doctors Without Borders who have set up tents at Herat Regional Hospital and mobile health teams are on their way to Zenda Jan district which is one of the worst-hit areas.
The United Nations migration agency has deployed four ambulances with doctors and psychosocial support counselors while UNICEF sent thousands of essential items including winter clothes blankets and tarpaulins for those affected by this disaster whose numbers are increasing every minute according to Abdul Wahid Rayan who serves at Ministry Of Information And Culture.
The aid group World Food Program has already reached out with essential items while neighboring Pakistan is also making its efforts towards helping those affected by getting an assessment done about urgent needs required there.
China too has offered its assistance through its ambassador Zhao Xing who said his government and charitable institutions were ready to provide whatever possible help they could give while Japan expressed their condolences on social media platform X.
Furthermore cricket star Rashid Khan announced he will donate all his Cricket World Cup fees towards helping earthquake survivors in Herat’s district.
