Major Earthquake Strikes Western Afghanistan, Following Prior Week’s Catastrophic Seismic Events

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A significant earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 hit western Afghanistan this past Sunday, coming just over a week after a series of severe earthquakes and aftershocks claimed thousands of lives and decimated entire communities in the same area.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the most recent earthquake was situated approximately 34 kilometers (21 miles) away from Herat, the capital of the province, and had a depth of eight kilometers (about five miles) beneath the Earth’s surface.

As of now, there are no formal reports confirming casualties or infrastructural damage resulting from this latest seismic event.

The earthquakes that occurred on October 7 were among the most devastating in Afghanistan’s recent history, leveling entire villages in Herat. United Nations officials disclosed on Thursday that more than 90% of the fatalities from the previous week were women and children.

Earlier reports from Taliban authorities indicated that the preceding earthquakes resulted in over 2,000 deaths throughout the province. United Nations data specifies that the hardest-hit area was Zenda Jan district, where 1,294 individuals lost their lives, another 1,688 were injured, and every single residence was demolished.

The first earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks and a subsequent earthquake, also measuring 6.3 in magnitude, on Wednesday of the same week. These seismic events led to the destruction of hundreds of mud-brick homes incapable of withstanding such forces. Additionally, community infrastructure, including schools and healthcare clinics, was reduced to rubble.

After the cataclysmic events, little remained of the affected villages situated in the region’s arid hills, other than debris and the somber reality of mass funerals. Survivors are grappling with the grievous loss of numerous family members. In many instances, the number of volunteers arriving to sift through the rubble and assist in the construction of mass burial sites now outnumbers the local living residents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Earthquake in Western Afghanistan

More about Earthquake in Western Afghanistan

• U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Information
• United Nations Humanitarian Reports on Afghanistan
• Afghanistan Provincial Government Statements on Earthquakes
• Global Seismic Activity Monitoring
• Humanitarian Aid Organizations in Afghanistan
• Past Earthquakes in Afghanistan: Historical Data
• Structural Integrity and Earthquake-Resistant Buildings in Afghanistan