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SITUATION OVERVIEW
On October 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near Herat, Afghanistan, resulting from thrust faulting at shallow depths near the western end of the Hindu Kush mountain range.
Preceding this event, a similar magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred approximately 30 minutes earlier. Both earthquakes occurred along fault planes oriented east-west, with a dip either to the north or south. These seismic activities took place within the Eurasia plate, situated in an intracontinental mountain belt.
The frequent occurrence of earthquakes in Afghanistan and its surrounding regions is attributed to the intricate and active interactions among the Arabian, Eurasia, and Indian plates. The seismicity in the western and central regions of Afghanistan is primarily influenced by the northward movement of the Arabian plate relative to the Eurasia plate.
This earthquake resulted in at least 18 confirmed deaths and 90 reported injuries. The epicenter was located 24.8 miles northwest of Herat, the region's largest city. The quake, lasting over an hour, triggered panic among residents who fled buildings, with reports of landslides and people trapped under rubble. An aftershock measuring 5.5 magnitude followed the initial quake.
Residents in Herat described the terrifying experience as walls cracked, plaster fell, and some buildings partially collapsed. Communication networks were disrupted, leaving individuals anxiously unable to contact their families. Public health officials fear the current casualty figures may rise as more information becomes available. The public health director of Herat province expressed concerns about the potential for a higher death toll, citing reports of individuals buried under debris
Difficulties in obtaining precise details persist due to disrupted telephone connections in the affected areas. Social media videos depict scenes of hundreds of people gathered in the streets, while fears of additional earthquakes linger.
This earthquake follows a series of seismic events, including a magnitude 5.9 quake near Herat.
Afghanistan has a history of earthquakes, frequently experiencing seismic activity in the Hindu Kush mountain range. In June 2022, a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan claimed over 1,000 lives and injured around 1,500, marking the deadliest quake in the country in two decades.
The earthquake compounds Afghanistan's existing humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the withdrawal of foreign aid since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The region is grappling with multiple challenges, making relief efforts more complex amid the ongoing struggles of the affected population.