A powerful earthquake followed by strong aftershocks has killed more than 100 people in western Afghanistan, local officials said, as the United Nations warned that the death toll could rise as search and rescue efforts continue. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck 40km (24 miles) west of the city of Herat at about 11 am on Saturday (06:30 GMT), with strong aftershocks felt in the neighbouring Badghis and Farah provinces. The Afghan Ministry of Defence in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, said the tremors killed more than 100 people and injured more than 500. In Herat city, resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said the quake was followed by at least five strong tremors at about noon on Saturday (07:30 GMT). The World Health Organization in Afghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulances to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals.

Source: Nigerian Tribune October 08, 2023 07:21 UTC