HERAT: The death toll from a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in western Afghanistan rose to about 120 by Saturday evening, with more than 1,000 others being treated for injuries, disaster relief authorities said.

The United States Geological Survey said the epicentre was 40 kilometres northwest of the region’s largest city Herat, and was followed by eight aftershocks with magnitudes between 4.3 and 6.3.

“So far, more than 1,000 injured women, children, and old citizens have been included in our records, and about 120 people have lost their lives,” Herat province disaster management head Mosa Ashari said.

Crowds of residents fled buildings in Herat at around 11am (0630 GMT) as the quakes began.

Men, women and children stood out in the wide streets, away from tall buildings, in the moments after the first quake and remained wary of returning to their homes as aftershocks rumbled for hours.

“The situation was very horrible, I have never experienced such a thing,” said 21-year-old student Idrees Arsala, the last to safely evacuate his classroom as the quakes began.

‘Buried under the rubble’

Earlier, disaster management authority spokesman Mullah Jan Sayeq said that the number of fatalities was expected “to rise very high”.

“There are some areas that are totally collapsed and all the houses are damaged,” he said. “People are still buried under the rubble. The aid agencies are trying to reach the area.”

Hundreds of fatalities were possible, according to a USGS preliminary estimate.

Herat — Afghanistan’s cultural capital of — is home to an estimated population of 1.9 million, according to 2019 World Bank data.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2023