Eastern Afghanistan was shaken by a very strong earthquake of 6.0 magnitude on the Richter scale on last Sunday, with devastating effects. The strong quake hit at a shallow depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif and the town of Khulm. This 7.8 magnitude quake has resulted in at least 800 confirmed deaths and more than 2,800 injuries. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), it was a 5.9 magnitude seismic event. It has most recently caused catastrophic damage over multiple eastern mountainous provinces.
The earthquake’s effects reverberated across Afghanistan and even farther afield. Neighboring countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan experienced the shock waves. Another serious earthquake hit western Afghanistan in late October 2023, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale. This heartbreaking disaster took more than 2,000 lives, and now, this new disaster provides a continuing story.
In the wake of rescue efforts, the total level of damage is just starting to come into focus. Eyewitnesses have described catastrophic damage especially in communities with fewer durable housing stock. Rahima, a former school teacher who lives in Mazar-i-Sharif. In her own words, Rahima described the events of the earthquake and the days that followed.
I’ve lived through a lot of earthquakes, but I’d never experienced anything like that before, Rahima recounted. She expressed gratitude for her concrete home, stating, “I am happy that my house is made of concrete in the city.” She raised concerns about the safety of those living in more vulnerable structures, adding, “I don’t know if houses made of mud have survived this earthquake in the outskirts of the city.”
In the hour after the initial quake, at least five significant aftershocks rattled the region, the strongest 5.2 in magnitude. Experts from the US Geological Survey warned that the risk of large loss of life is still very great.
“Significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response,” warned the USGS PAGER system.
Now, local partners and increased emergency service mobilization is what’s needed to help those impacted by this disaster. Humanitarian partners are focusing on urgent medical needs, and ensuring that other survivors have access to food, water and shelter. With vital infrastructure laid to waste and thousands of families now refugees from their homes, sustained and patient support will be key in the near future.
