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Devastating 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Claims Over 2,000 Lives in Western Afghanistan

In a tragic turn of events, a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck western Afghanistan, specifically Herat, resulting in an alarming toll. The United Nations reports a staggering count of over 2,000 casualties, with 9,240 individuals sustaining injuries.

Local authorities in Herat province confirm that the seismic event has claimed the lives of more than 30 people, leaving over 600 others wounded. The impact has been particularly severe in the Zinda Jan and Ghoryan districts, where a dozen villages lay in ruins.

Janan Saiq, spokesperson for the Ministry of Disaster Management, has provided grim details, stating that at least 15 individuals in three villages of the Zinda Jan district lost their lives, while nearly 40 others suffered injuries. Partial destruction of houses has also been reported in Farah and Badghis provinces.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has recorded a series of six earthquakes in western Afghanistan, with the largest registering at a magnitude of 6.3. The most recent event, a 5.9 magnitude tremor, struck at a depth of 7.7 km in the Zinda Jan district of Herat.

The impact of the quake has reverberated in nearby provinces, including Farah and Badghis. Afghanistan’s geographical location, near the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, renders it susceptible to seismic activity. This tragic incident comes in the wake of a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, which claimed over 1,000 lives and left approximately 1,500 individuals injured.

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