Kabul: The US Geological Survey (USGS) has reported a magnitude-6.3 earthquake near the city of Herat, Afghanistan. The quake, with a depth of 6.3km (four miles), occurred around 3.30 a.m. today. It struck 30km north-west of Herat, Afghanistan’s third-largest city, near the Iranian border.
This seismic event follows last Saturday’s earthquake in Zindajan, a rural district 40km from Herat, where fragile houses crumbled, resulting in casualties. UNICEF noted that over 90% of the victims in the previous quakes were women and children.
Afghanistan, facing an economic crisis since the Taliban takeover in 2021, is confronted with additional challenges as earthquakes exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Direct aid to the government was halted following the Taliban’s ascension, compounding the difficulties faced by the Afghan population.
Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range. The country has witnessed frequent seismic activities with devastating consequences.
This recent earthquake echoes the tragedy in June of last year when a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the province of Paktika, claiming over 1,000 lives and rendering tens of thousands homeless.
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