Over 2000 dead in Afghanistan earthquake
IRCS rescue & relief teams in Herat
The death toll from powerful earthquakes in western Afghanistan has crossed 2,000, a senior Taliban leader said, adding the number might rise further in one of the deadliest quakes to hit the country in two decades. Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban spokesperson based in Qatar, announced that many people were missing and rescue operations were under way to save people trapped under the rubble in the wake of a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Herat province, according to Al Jazeera. Shaheen said there was an urgent need for tents, medical and food items in the areas hit by the disaster, as he appealed to local businessmen and NGOs to come forward to help people in need.
In response to the natural disaster in the neighboring country of Afghanistan, the Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent 10 operational rescue and relief teams to the quake-stricken Herat from Razavi, South and North Khorasan provinces, ILNA reported.
In addition, a relief cargo, including 500 relief tents, 1,000 carpets, 4,000 blankets, 500 sets of dishes, 500 ten-day food packages, along with search and rescue equipment, was sent to Afghanistan.
“Besides the 2,060 dead, 1,240 people are injured and 1,320 houses are completely destroyed,” said Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesperson at the Ministry of Information and Culture. About six villages have been destroyed and hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, he said, calling for urgent help.
The magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit 40km northwest of the city of Herat at about 11 am on Saturday (06:30 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).