Afghanistan earthquake casualties top 4,000

Officials announced on Monday that the earthquakes that occurred in western Afghanistan on Saturday have caused more than 4,000 casualties, comprising both fatalities and injuries.

The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) has stated that approximately 2,000 residences were completely demolished due to the two 6.2-magnitude earthquakes.

“So far, the statistics we have received regarding casualties are unfortunately exceeding 4,000 people. According to our data, in about 20 villages, approximately 1,980 to 2,000 houses have completely collapsed,” Mullah Saiq, spokesman for ANDMA, said at a press conference in Kabul.

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China Extends Emergency Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan

The earthquakes struck Herat Province and nearby regions on Saturday afternoon, with the initial tremor occurring at approximately 11:10 local time (0640 GMT).

A total of more than 1,000 rescuers in 35 rescue teams from different institutions are carrying out relief efforts in the affected areas, said the spokesman.

Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Afghanistan’s acting prime minister, led a group of officials to visit the affected region in Herat Province on Monday.

On Sunday, China delivered $200,000 in cash to the Afghan Red Crescent as urgent humanitarian aid to support their efforts in rescue and disaster relief.

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