According to Afghan Ministry of Disaster Management officials, the death toll from the Herat earthquake has exceeded 2,500 as relief teams work in the area, while affected people in the area still need shelter and food.
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Death toll after earthquake in Afghanistan rises to over 2,000
At least 2,530 people died and 9,240 were injured in the chain of earthquakes that occurred on Saturday in the Afghan province of Herat in the northwest of the country, a spokesman for the Taliban authorities confirmed.
The tally was announced by Ministry of Disaster Management spokesman Janan Faiq, who confirmed that the greatest damage was observed in 13 towns in Zendejan, where more than 1,300 houses were completely destroyed.
The Taliban’s main spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, called for the urgent implementation of a large-scale deployment of rescue troops to alleviate the effects of the chain of earthquakes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that “the number of casualties is expected to increase as search and rescue operations continue.”
The earthquake, which struck regions 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Herat on Saturday night, was followed by eight strong aftershocks.
In Herat, considered Afghanistan’s cultural capital, panicked residents and traders took to the streets as they felt the earth move.