Earthquakes In Western Afghanistan See Death Toll Reach 2,053

Afghan men search for survivors amidst the debris of a house that was destroyed by an earthquake in Gayan, Afghanistan, June 23, 2022.
Afghan men search for survivors amidst the debris of a house that was destroyed by an earthquake in Gayan, Afghanistan, June 23, 2022.

The death toll from earthquakes in western Afghanistan on Saturday has surged to 2,053, the spokesperson for the national disaster authority under the Taliban said.

The spokesperson for the national disaster authority under the Taliban, Mullah Janan Shaeq, revealed on Sunday that 9,240 individuals have also sustained injuries, and 1,340 houses have been demolished due to the earthquakes that rattled Herat, as well as the neighboring provinces of Badghis and Farah.

The Zanda Jan district in Herat has been particularly hard-hit, with the official noting that 13 villages in the area have been completely destroyed.

Two earthquakes, both registering a magnitude of 6.2, struck Afghanistan on Saturday, followed by multiple aftershocks. The initial tremor occurred around 11:10 local time (0640 GMT), prompting local residents to evacuate their homes.

International organizations and local authorities have dispatched rescue teams to the affected regions. Local authorities have provided essential supplies such as medicine, water, food, blankets, and tents to the families.

Meanwhile, rescue teams have been working to locate survivors under the debris, as there is concern that the casualty count may continue to rise.

Afghan officials, including Mawlawi Matiul Haq Khalis, the acting head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, and Mufti Ashrafi, the head of the coordination committee for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), visited the areas impacted by the earthquake. They appealed to both Afghan and foreign aid agencies to provide support to the affected populations.