Herat Earthquake Update

Thursday, October 19,   

• A new magnitude-4.1 quake hit about 10 km in the Qara Bagh area, located about 30 km from the provincial capital Herat city, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
  
  Tremors were also felt in the Zindajan and Karokh districts as well as in Chahar Burjak district in the neighboring Nimroz province.
  
  No casualties were reported immediately. 

Tuesday, October 17

• Taliban authorities announced that construction of 2,146 "standard" homes in quake-affected areas in Herat has begun. The group said these homes will be built in the Siah Aab area of the Zinda Jan district, the epicenter of the devastating quakes.
  
  
• Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the group intends to complete the construction before the arrival of harsh winter, without providing further details on the construction plan, budget, and more.

Monday, October 16

• UN launched the Herat Earthquake Response Plan, appealing for $93 million to rapidly deliver life-saving assistance and early recovery support between October 2023 and March 2023. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) seeks to target nearly 114,000 affected people with a focus on those whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed.
  
  
• OCHA said affected families need urgent temporary shelter, food and cash assistance, safe water, and WASH supplies, as well as emergency healthcare and protection. With a harsh winter approaching, families will also need transitional shelter assistance, winter clothing, blankets, and heating materials.
  
  
• Of the total $93.6 million, $40.2M is required for emergency shelter, $24.2M for food security and agriculture, $7.9M for health, $8.4M for protection, $9.5M for water, sanitation and hygiene, and the remainder for nutrition and education. 

Sunday, October 15

• Another earthquake of magnitude 6.3 Richter shook Herat this morning. At least two people are reported dead and tens of injured ones have been taken to the hospital.
  
  
• It is now an entire week that Herat in western Afghanistan has been reverberating with earthquake shocks. 

Thursday, October 12

Pope Francis encouraged his followers to help victims of the quake in Afghanistan. "Let us contribute in a spirit of fraternity to alleviate the suffering of the people and support necessary reconstruction," he said. It is not clear whether the Vatican directly pledged any amount to humanitarian efforts for victims and survivors. 

Wednesday, October 11

• Local sources confirm that the recent waves of shocks have damaged historical sites in Herat City, a UNESCO-protected site. Parts of the Citadel of Herat (built in 330 BC) have cracked. The upper parts of one of the minarets in the Musalla complex (built in the 15th century) and one of the minarets of Herat's grand mosque (built in the 10th century) have also been damaged.

Wednesday, October 11

• The UN's fund for children, UNICEF, says that over 90% of the victims are women and children. The organization has appealed for another $20 million to respond to their needs. 
• World Food Program (WHO) has again warned that thousands of survivors, who are panicked and in need,  require immediate attention.

Wednesday, October 11

• Australia pledges $1 million to help victims of the earthquake. Australian foreign ministry said in a statement that the money will be spent through the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund led by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Tuesday, October 10

• Another aftershock was reported at 5:43 AM local time on Wednesday, October 11. Western Afghanistan has been reverberating from earthquake shocks since Saturday morning when the first 6.3-degree Richter quake struck several districts in Herat. 

Tuesday, October 10

• Another earthquake just struck Herat at 5:11 AM local time (less than 30 minutes ago.) According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was 6.3 Richter strong and reverberated 28 KM northwest of Herat city, at 10 KM depth.
• A 5-degree Richter aftershock struck 11 minutes later.
• This was the 14th quake since the first one that struck on Saturday. 
• Given the strength of the shock, high casualties (as many as 1000) and substantial physical damage are expected.