World (LNW): A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.3 hit western Afghanistan near the Iranian border, around 40km from the city of Herat, at 11:00 local time.
The quake caused significant structural damage, resulting in many trapped under debris and was followed by three strong aftershocks.
Residents, like Bashir Ahmad from Herat, shared distressing accounts of buildings collapsing around them, with limited communication due to network disruptions.
Mosa Ashari, the province’s disaster management chief, reported over 1,000 injuries and approximately 120 deaths, though other unverified sources suggest the death toll could be over 300.
Videos from Herat Central Hospital showed many injured individuals receiving outdoor treatment.
Footage from Herat’s Injil district revealed vast destruction, making rescue operations challenging.
Herat, Afghanistan’s cultural capital, has a population of around 1.9 million. The country, located near the intersection of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, frequently experiences earthquakes, with a significant one in Paktika province last year killing over 1,000 people.
