Afghanistan hit by 6.3 magnitude earthquake, several aftershocks

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Afghanistan hit by 6.3 magnitude earthquake, several aftershocks

Kabul (Web Desk): A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan on Saturday morning, according to local media, followed by several large aftershocks ranged from 4.6 to 6.3, between 11:10am and 12:36pm local time with epicentres close to the region’s largest city.

There are no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The United States Seismological Center (USGS) has also recorded the earthquake with four aftershocks in western Afghanistan, centered in Zinda Jan district.

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The USGS said the epicentre was 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of the city of Herat and was quickly followed by aftershocks with magnitudes of 5.5, 4.7, 6.3 and 5.9. 

Residents of Herat and Badghis have also reported the occurrence of several aftershocks. Many families in Herat have been evicted from their homes and are on the roadside following the fourth and fifth earthquakes. 

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Hundreds of fatalities were possible, according to a USGS preliminary report.

“Significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response,” it said.

USGS had earlier reported the first quake’s magnitude as 6.2. It had a shallow depth of just 14km, it said.

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Since 1920, seven other earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger have occurred within 250 km of the October 7 earthquake, all within Iran. These previous earthquakes included a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in May 1997 that caused 1,567 fatalities, and a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in November 1979.