Death toll from Afghanistan earthquake crosses 2000 mark

The death toll for the powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan has surpassed the 2,000-mark and more than 9,000 injuries have been reported so far, the Taliban government has said.

The earthquake has reportedly killed 2,053 people, injured 9,240 others and completely destroyed or damaged 1,329 houses, according to Mullah Janan Sayek, a spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters.

Dr. Danish, an official of Herat’s health department, reported that more than 200 dead were taken to various hospitals. He also noted that a significant majority of these victims were women and children. The bodies had been “taken to many places – military bases, hospitals”, he added.

The UN has stated that local authorities are anticipating the number of casualties to further increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people are trapped under the building debris.

The quakes struck 35 km (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, with a magnitude of 6.3, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

This seismic event was followed by three significantly strong aftershocks, magnitudes 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, along with several smaller tremors.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation in Afghanistan has stated that it has dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate the victims to hospitals.

The Taliban’s deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, expressed his condolences to the victims in Herat and Badghis.

The Taliban in the meantime have urged local organisations to reach the affected areas to help take the injured to hospital, provide shelter to the homeless and deliver food to the survivors. The security agencies have also been directed to use all their resources and facilities to rescue people trapped under the debris of destroyed buildings._Agencies