Race against time to save victims in Herat Province following devastating Afghanistan earthquake

Emergency teams in Afghanistan are working hastily to rescue individuals trapped under debris caused by a powerful earthquake that struck the western part of the country. The quake, measured at 6.3 magnitude, hit villages in Herat Province on Saturday, and hundreds of people are feared dead. The rescue workers are facing numerous challenges, including communication difficulties and blocked roads, as they struggle to reach remote areas. Thousands have been injured, and international organizations like the UN have begun delivering emergency aid. The worst-affected communities are made up of mud structures, which collapsed immediately when the earthquake struck. With homes destroyed, many residents are preparing to spend a second night sleeping outside. The death toll remains uncertain, but the Taliban government reports that 2,000 people have been either killed or wounded. Hospitals, already lacking essential medical facilities, are overwhelmed in their efforts to care for the injured. Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, due to its close proximity to the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In June last year, a 5.9 magnitude quake struck the province of Paktika, killing over 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.