Afghan rescue workers searched for survivors beneath the rubble overnight. after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the western part of the country 120 people have died.

The earthquake occurred on Saturday. The epicenter was only 10 kilometers deep, and after eight large tremors shook the area 30 kilometers northwest of Herat for more than five hours, destroying houses in the countryside. People fled into the streets. Disaster Management Services Department said It has been reported that 120 people have died and more than 1,000 have been injured. The death toll is expected to rise significantly. The World Health Organization has stated that More than 600 homes were fully or partially damaged in at least 12 villages in Herat province. and approximately 4,200 people are in distress

Herat is the third largest city in Afghanistan. It has a population of approximately 695,000. It is the capital of Herat Province bordering Iran and has a population of 1.9 million people. Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes. Specifically, the Hindu Kush mountain range is near the point where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet. The mountain range is 800 kilometers long, stretching from central and eastern Afghanistan to western Pakistan and far southeastern Tajikistan. In June 2022, more than 1,000 people died in Afghanistan and 10,000 homes were partially or fully damaged when a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit Paktika Province. east of the country Because the epicenter was only 4 kilometers deep, it was considered the deadliest earthquake in 20 years in Afghanistan.

Source: Thai News Agency