Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture told The Associated Press that more than 2,000 people lost their lives due to the earthquake and subsequent strong aftershocks, seeking an urgent need for assistance, as six villages have been destroyed, and hundreds of civilians are trapped under debris.
The earthquake, measuring magnitude 6.3, struck Herat province, approximately 40 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Herat city at around 11 am on Saturday (06:30 GMT), as confirmed by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Strong aftershocks were felt in nearby Badghis and Farah provinces.
The USGS noted that the initial earthquake was followed by three substantial aftershocks with magnitudes of 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, in addition to weaker tremors.