Hundreds feared dead in Herat after string of deadly earthquakes

A spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority told Ariana News that hundreds of people have been killed in Herat province after a string of deadly earthquakes rocked the province early Saturday.

Janan Sayeq said at least seven villages in Zinda Jan district of Herat were completely destroyed in the two 6.3 magnitude earthquakes on Saturday morning.

He said in one village alone, only 100 families out of 300 survived the quake.

At least five powerful earthquakes struck the city and surrounding districts from just after 11am on Saturday.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit at 11:11 am, followed by a 5.5 and a 4.7 magnitude aftershock just minutes later. At 11:40 another 6.3 hit, at a depth of just 10km.

This was followed by a 5.9 quake just 30 minutes later. All of these quakes were at depths of between 7.7km and 14 km and most were epicentered around Zinda Jan.

The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement late Saturday that that military and rescue services have been dispatched to Herat as a matter of urgency. He also said urgent measures should be taken to provide shelter and food to the survivors who have been left homeless.

Mujahid said that all stops need to be pulled out to rescue survivors who are trapped under rubble.

Reports meanwhile indicated that telephone lines are down, which is causing difficulties in obtaining precise details from the impacted areas.

Herat is considered the cultural capital of Afghanistan and is the official capital of Herat province which is home to an estimated population of 1.9 million.