As many as 2,053 people have been killed as a result of violent earthquakes that struck Afghanistan late Saturday while 9,240 people have been injured, a government spokesperson confirmed to Reuters on Sunday.
The death toll from the earthquakes, which was previously reported to be 120, is expected to rise as rescue operations are still underway in the affected areas.
“Unfortunately, the casualties are practically very high,” deputy government spokesman Bilal Karimi said early Sunday, as the extent of the damage became clear.
Additionally, 1,328 houses were flattened after eight powerful aftershocks from the magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook the region 30 kilometers northwest of Herat and terrified city people to flee into the streets.
According to Mosa Ashari, Herat disaster management head, late Saturday there had been “about 120” fatalities reported and “more than 1,000 injured women, children, and old citizens”.
It breaks my heart to hear that 14 members of his family, including his 5-day-old child, are trapped under the rubble. A devastating earthquake has devastated countless homes in Herat, Afghanistan, claiming the lives of over 2,000 people and leaving more than 10,000 injured.… pic.twitter.com/DjCcB3kOuv
— Wazhma Ayoubi 🇦🇫 (@WazhmaAyoubi) October 8, 2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported more than 600 houses destroyed or partially damaged across at least 12 villages in Herat province, affecting 4,200.
