AFGHANISTAN: Another earthquake has struck western Afghanistan just days after two deadly quakes in the same region claimed the lives of over 1,000 people.
The latest 6.3-magnitude quake occurred at approximately 05:10 local time (00:40 GMT) on Wednesday, 28km (17 miles) north of Herat city.
More than 100 individuals have been injured and transported to hospitals, as reported by health officials.
The full extent of the impact is not yet certain, but a substantial number of residents were forced to sleep outdoors due to the destruction of their homes during the previous earthquake.
Aid organisations have stated that there are also shortages of essential supplies, such as blankets and food.
The office of Herat’s governor stated that there had been “huge losses” in districts close to the areas that had been severely affected by earlier earthquakes.
The latest quake comes at a time when the people of Afghanistan are already grappling with the impact of a 6.3-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that struck the region just last Saturday.
Photographs from the villages depict entire houses, too fragile to withstand the quakes, turned into piles of debris.
Taliban officials have reported a staggering toll of at least 2,445 casualties, with thousands more left injured in the most severe earthquakes the country has experienced in years.
Since the weekend, rescue teams and dedicated volunteers have been tirelessly labouring to unearth survivors and recover bodies from the wreckage of the levelled villages.
Afghanistan is frequently struck by earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, as it lies close to the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Also Read: Devastating Earthquakes in Western Afghanistan Claim over 2,000 Lives