Afghanistan Earthquake Update

The Afghan Red Crescent has reported a tragic increase in the number of earthquake victims in Afghanistan, now totaling 2,500. The New York Times recently quoted the head of a hospital in Herat Province, stating that at least 180 people have died, with nearly 600 injured in two powerful earthquakes on Saturday. Rescue operations are ongoing as many remain trapped under rubble, and the possibility of more casualties remains high.

Moussa Ash'ari, the head of natural disaster management in Herat province, confirmed 120 deaths and over 1,000 injuries, including women, children, and the elderly. The Taliban administration has declared a state of emergency due to the threat of further aftershocks. Dozens of villages in Zande Jan district have been completely destroyed, and 600 injured individuals have been rescued from the debris.

The US Geological Survey reported that both earthquakes registered 6.2 on the Richter scale, with the epicenter located approximately 25 miles northwest of Herat city, near the Iran border. At least seven aftershocks have followed. The two earthquakes occurred within two hours of each other. The affected areas include Herat, Badghis, and Farah provinces, with the earthquake felt as far as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran's city of Mashhad.

_{Source: Afghan Red Crescent}