Afghanistan: Powerful earthquake, aftershocks kills more than 100 people. Top updates
Associated Press. The United States Geological Survey said the epicentre of the magnitude 6.3 quake was 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of the region's largest city Herat. It was later followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude, as well as lesser shocks.
Earlier, the Geological Survey had also said that the eight aftershocks with magnitudes between 4.3 and 6.3 followed. -The United Nations gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead, but later said the figure was still being verified. The local authorities gave an estimate of 100 dead and 500 injured, according to the same update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as reported by AP. -Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks.
-As per UN update, 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged. “Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings," the UN said as quoted by AP. -The World Health Organization in Afghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals.
“As deaths & casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded & assessing additional needs," the UN agency said on X. -As per United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Afghanistan, in total, 4,200 people (600 families) are assessed to have been affected to date, including 1,400 IDPs (300 families). Mahal Wadakah is understood to
. Read more on livemint.com
