Sunday, October 8, 2023
Afghanistan earthquake claims more than 2,000 lives, flattens homes
The number of deaths is expected to rise as information from remote areas is received, one Taliban government department has estimated that it may exceed 2,000. Trending : Saudi Arabia calls for immediate halt escalation between Palestinians and Israelis
At least 12 villages in the area of Herat were completely destroyed on Saturday by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. Significant aftershocks occurred. Buildings collapsing all around survivors, they expressed their terror.
- Around 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT) on Saturday, the earthquake occurred roughly 40 km (25 mi) north-west of Herat. Teams of rescuers searched through the night for people who might be buried beneath the wreckage.
- There have been thousands of injuries. Hospitals in a nation with woefully insufficient medical resources struggle to treat the injured. Emergency supplies are now pouring in, thanks in part to the UN and other organizations. Most Viewed : Procedure of Amicable settlement for employment dues in Saudi Arabia
- Remote areas with mud constructions make up the worst impacted communities. According to Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Herat whose family resides in one of the villages, "in the very first shake all the houses collapsed," he told the AFP news agency.
- "Those who were inside the houses were buried," he stated. "There are families we have heard no news from."
- To determine the extent of the effects, the Taliban's minister of public health is currently in Herat. At least 465 homes had been demolished, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Video from Herat Central Hospital shows patients being treated outside the main building while connected to intravenous drips, illustrating the unexpected and massive demand for emergency care. Like and Follow Saudi Expatriates on Facebook
- Other images depict scenes of destruction in the Injil neighborhood of Herat, where roads were blocked by rubble, impeding rescue efforts.
- Idrees Arsala, a student, told AFP that "the situation was very horrible, I have never experienced such a thing." After the tremors started, he was the last person to leave his classroom safely.
- The city of Herat, which is 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the Iranian border, is regarded as Afghanistan's cultural center. In the province, it is estimated that 1.9 million residents living in the province.
- Due to its proximity to the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, Afghanistan experiences earthquakes often, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain region. Join Saudi Expatriates on Telegram
