Afghanistan hit by third major earthquake in a week after thousands killed

15 October 2023 , 06:54

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People carrying aid to tents following an earthquake in Zenda Jan district, Afghanistan (Image: AP)

An earthquake has hit Afghanistan - the third to strike in a week.

The quake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, has hit near the city of Herat. It comes just over a week after strong quakes and aftershocks killed thousands of people and flattened entire villages in the same region. Its epicentre was 21 miles outside of the city in the west of the country, and five miles below the surface, the US Geological Survey said. As yet, there are no reports of casualties.

The initial disaster which struck on Saturday, October 7, flattened entire villages and killed nearly 2,500 people in the province, according to the Taliban, with UN officials reporting that 90 per cent of the victims were women and children. The earthquake was one of the most destructive in the country's recent history.

People receive relief material in the earthquake-hit Zenda Jan district of Herat, Afghanistan (SAMIULLAH POPAL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The epicentre for last weekend's quake was in Zenda Jan district, where 1,294 people died, 1,688 were injured and every home was destroyed, according to UN figures. The initial quake, numerous aftershocks and a second 6.3-magnitude quake on Wednesday flattened villages, destroying hundreds of mud-brick homes that could not withstand such force.

Around 80 people were injured in the second quake, although there were no deaths as many residents took shelter in tents following Saturday's disaster. Taliban officials said Wednesday's also caused a landslide, which blocked the main Herat-Toghondi motorway.

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A subsequent tremor hit in the same region on Wednesday. Schools, health clinics and other village facilities also collapsed.

Susie Beever