An earthquake near the Iranian border in western Afghanistan killed hundreds.
Some say the death toll is much higher. A Saturday 6.3-magnitude earthquake damaged at least twelve towns in Herat.
There were strong aftershocks. When buildings collapsed around them, witnesses were terrified.
Workers searched the rubble for survivors all night.
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Hospitals struggle to treat injured patients in a country with scarce medical resources. The UN and other agencies are rushing disaster supplies.Injury numbers are in the thousands.
An earthquake struck 40 kilometers (25 miles) north-west of Herat on Saturday at 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT).
“The building vibrated immediately while we were in our offices. The structure collapsed, walls broke, and plaster fell off.” Herat native Bashir Ahmad told AFP.
I can’t reach my family… It was terrible—I’m afraid and anxious.
In Herat, the Taliban’s public health minister is analysing the damage.
Herat Central Hospital CCTV showed patients receiving intravenous drips outside the main facility, illustrating the need for emergency care.
Injil’s Herat region was devastated, and debris blocked highways, making rescues impossible.
“The situation was very horrible; I have never experienced such a thing,” student Idrees Arsala told AFP. He was the last student to leave his classroom without incident during the earthquakes.
Afghan culture is centred on Herat, 120 km (75 km) east of Iran. About 1.9 million people live in the province.
Afghanistan, notably the Hindu Kush mountain region, is prone to earthquakes due to its proximity to the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake in Paktika last June killed over 1,000 people and displaced tens of thousands of civilians.
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