Stanisland Magazine

Devastating Earthquake Strikes Herat, Western Afghanistan: A Desperate Struggle for Survival.

News of the natural disaster in South Asia has been overshadowed by events currently unfolding in the Middle East. A powerful earthquake, striking with a magnitude of 6.3, has wreaked havoc in western Afghanistan, close to its border with Iran. The aftermath of the disaster is dire, with hundreds of casualties reported, and the death toll expected to surge, particularly in rural areas. Startling estimates from a government department within the Taliban suggest that the toll might surpass a harrowing 2,000 lives lost.

The epicenter of the quake lay approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat and jolted the region at around 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT) on a fateful Saturday. At least 12 villages in the vicinity of Herat suffered extensive devastation, where vulnerable mud structures were the norm. Survivors recount the sheer terror as buildings crumbled, and powerful aftershocks only compounded their distress.

In the desperate race against time, rescue teams toiled tirelessly throughout the night, searching for those buried beneath the rubble. The scale of injuries is staggering, overwhelming an already struggling healthcare system. With medical facilities stretched beyond their limits, the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have initiated efforts to expedite emergency supplies to those in dire need.

The tragedy is exacerbated by Afghanistan’s geographical vulnerability to earthquakes, given its proximity to the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, notably in the Hindu Kush mountain range. Herat, often regarded as the cultural heart of Afghanistan and located 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the Iranian border, houses an estimated 1.9 million residents, making it a significant focal point.

This recent catastrophe evokes painful memories of a similarly devastating earthquake in June of the previous year. A 5.9 magnitude quake struck the province of Paktika, claiming the lives of over 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands without shelter. Afghanistan, a nation all too familiar with seismic threats, now faces the grim task of healing and rebuilding in the wake of yet another unforgiving earthquake.

Photo: Mohammad Rahmani