In a heart-wrenching turn of events, western Afghanistan grapples with the aftermath of two powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquakes that struck on Saturday, claiming the lives of 320 individuals, according to the United Nations. The Central Asian country faced the brunt of these seismic forces, with buildings collapsing and trapping residents beneath the rubble.

Four villages in the Zenda Jan district of Herat province, as reported by Mohammad Abdullah Jan, bore the maximum impact of the quakes and subsequent aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey identified the epicenter 24.8 miles northwest of Herat city, noting seven earthquakes in the area. Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi described the chaos, recounting at least five powerful earthquakes striking around noon.

“All people are out of their homes,” Samadi expressed, highlighting the widespread evacuation of residences, offices, and shops, coupled with heightened fears of additional seismic activity. The World Health Organisation, along with UN teams on the ground, is actively assisting victims in hospitals and transporting the wounded, predominantly women and children.

Communication disruptions, including telephone outages in Herat, impede the gathering of detailed information from affected areas. Videos circulating on social media depict hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city, reflecting the magnitude of the disaster.

The seismic impact extended beyond Herat province, reaching neighbouring Afghan provinces of Farah and Badghis, as reported by local media. Notably, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed condolences to the deceased and injured in Herat and Badghis.