About the Zindajan Earthquakes

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Between October 8-15, 2023, Afghanistan suffered four 6.3-magnitude earthquakes near Herat. The United Nations reported that the quakes resulted in over 3,000 deaths, while hundreds are still unaccounted for.

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The first two earthquakes have impacted more than 11,000 residents in the Zindajan district, with every home reportedly destroyed. The U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes over 300 families affected in other areas.

As rescue operations proceed, mainly involving villagers using rudimentary tools to sift through the rubble, the casualty count is expected to grow. Local hospitals need help coping with the influx of injured patients.

The U.N. has allocated $5 million from the Afghanistan Emergency Reserve for relief initiatives in response to the tragedy. While countries like Pakistan, Iran, and China have pledged aid, some organizations, including World Vision Afghanistan, believe that more than international assistance is needed.

The U.S. has refrained from providing direct aid after the earthquakes, but Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that U.S. humanitarian allies are assisting with urgent relief.

A third 6.3 earthquake hit the region early on the morning of the 11th. Many of the dead are still buried under the rubble of the original two earthquakes. By the 11th, the death toll from those was nearing 3,000. More casualties are expected due to this third quake.

A fourth 6.3 earthquake hit Haret on October 15, 2023, adding at least two more people to the death toll.

The region is no stranger to seismic activity. A June 2022 earthquake near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border resulted in over 1,000 casualties. The recent natural disaster exacerbates Afghanistan's challenges, with the Taliban takeover in 2021 leading to heightened food scarcity and poverty among its population.