Two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes in Afghanistan today have killed 15 people and injured close to 40 more

 Two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes in Afghanistan today have killed 15 people and injured close to 40 more

According to a representative for the nation's national disaster administration, two 6.3 magnitude earthquakes struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, inflicting at least 15 fatalities and almost 40 injuries.

Four villages in the Zenda Jan area of Herat, according to Mohammad Abdullah Jan, took the brunt of the earthquakes and their aftershocks. Numerous homes have suffered damage.

The 6.3 magnitude earthquakes were reported by the United States Geological Survey.

It stated that the epicenter was 24.8 miles (40 km) northwest of Herat city. An aftershock with a magnitude of 5.5 occurred.

Seven earthquakes are indicated on a map on the USGS website. According to Abdul Shakor Samadi, a resident of Herat city, the city saw at least five strong earthquakes around noon.

All people have left their homes, according to Samadi. There are worries of further earthquakes, therefore all the homes, businesses, and retail spaces are deserted. I felt the earthquake while my family and I were inside our house. His family started shouting and fled outside for safety.

Telephone lines failed, making it challenging to obtain information from the impacted areas. Hundreds of people were seen on the streets of Herat city in videos posted on social media.

Iran is bordered by Herat province. According to local media accounts, the tremor was also felt in the neighbouring provinces of Farah and Badghis.

The deputy prime minister for economic matters designated by the Taliban, Abdul Ghani Baradar, sent his condolences to the families of the victims and injured in Herat and Badghis.

A strong earthquake that rocked a rough, mountainous area of eastern Afghanistan in June 2022 destroyed dwellings made of mud and stone.

With at least 1,000 fatalities and approximately 1,500 injuries, it was the deadliest earthquake to strike Afghanistan in 20 years.