According to Officials, more than 2,000 people have lost their lives while thousands were injured after two earthquakes hit western Afghanistan on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes struck in western Afghanistan 35 km (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat and hit the countries of Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
Janan Sayeeq, who is the spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters, said 2,053 people were killed, 9,240 injured and 1,320 houses damaged or destroyed.
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As of Sunday, morning October th, the death toll spiked from 500 reported earlier on Sunday by the Red Crescent. according to Reuters.
As it stands, the Afghan quake happens to be regarded as one of the deadliest earthquakes in the year 2023 after tremors in Turkey and Syria killed an estimated 50,000 in February.
The last earthquake which happened in Afghanistan occurred in the year 2022 in June on 22nd, when a 4.0-kilometre (2.5 mi) deep earthquake measuring magnitude (Mw ) 6.2 struck southeastern Afghanistan, leaving 1,052–1,163 deaths and 1,627–2,976 injured in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Afghanistan Earthquake History
Afghanistan is located in a seismically active region, and it has a long history of earthquakes. Here are some significant earthquakes in Afghanistan’s history:
- 1935 Balochistan Earthquake: This earthquake, also known as the Quetta earthquake, had a magnitude of 7.7 and caused widespread destruction in Quetta, which is now in Pakistan but was part of British India at the time. The quake also affected areas in Afghanistan.
- 1962 Buin Zahra Earthquake: This earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.9, struck the northeastern part of Afghanistan. It resulted in significant damage and casualties in the region.
- 1983 Hindu Kush Earthquake: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the Hindu Kush region, affecting both Afghanistan and Pakistan. It caused substantial damage in many areas.
- 1998 Takhar Earthquake: This earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9 and struck the northern part of Afghanistan. It resulted in numerous casualties and caused significant destruction.
- 2002 Hindu Kush Earthquake: A major earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 hit the Hindu Kush region. Although it primarily affected northern Pakistan, it was also felt in Afghanistan.
- 2010 Hindu Kush Earthquake: Another significant earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck the Hindu Kush region, affecting both Afghanistan and Pakistan. It caused casualties and widespread damage.
- 2021 Afghanistan Earthquake: In 2021, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Badakhshan. It caused some damage and casualties in the affected areas.
- 2022 Afghanistan Earthquake: In 2022, on June 22nd, a 4.0-kilometre (2.5 mi) deep earthquake measuring magnitude (Mw ) 6.2 struck southeastern Afghanistan.
