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2023 Herat earthquakes

Coordinates: 34°36′36″N 61°55′26″E / 34.610°N 61.924°E / 34.610; 61.924
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2023 Herat earthquakes
Map
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300km
200miles
UTC time2023-10-07 06:41:03
 2023-10-07 07:12:50
ISC event635743371
 635743376
USGS-ANSSComCat
 ComCat
Local date7 October 2023
Local time11:11 AFT (UTC+4:30)
 11:42 AFT (UTC+4:30)
Magnitude6.3 Mw
 6.3 Mw
Depth14 km (8.7 mi)
 10.6 km (6.6 mi)
Epicenter34°36′36″N 61°55′26″E / 34.610°N 61.924°E / 34.610; 61.924
TypeThrust
Areas affectedAfghanistan, Iran
Max. intensityMMI VIII (Severe)
Casualties≥2,795 dead, ≥2,000 injured, 485 missing
Map
Map of main shock and aftershocks – M 4.0 or greater (map data)

The 2023 Herat earthquakes occurred on 7 October 2023, near the city of Herat in western Afghanistan. The first earthquake struck at 11:11 AFT followed by the second shock 31 minutes later.[1][2] These earthquakes left at least 2,795 people dead and about 2,000 others injured. The United Nations also reported 485 people were missing.

Tectonic setting

Afghanistan is situated within the broad and complex zone of collision between the Arabian Plate, the Indian Plate, and the Eurasian Plate. The western part of the country is subdivided into the North Afghan Platform to the north and a series of accreted terranes to the south.[3] The North Afghan Platform has remained relatively tectonically stable since the Variscan Orogeny during the Late Palaeozoic, when it became part of Eurasia. To the south there is a collage of continental fragments and magmatic arcs that have been progressively accreted, particularly in the Mesozoic era. The boundary between these two crustal areas is the major right-lateral strike-slip Harirud (or Herat) Fault, which is far less seismically active than the Chaman Fault that runs through the east of the country. To the north of the Harirud Fault, the near parallel Band-e Turkestan Fault does show signs of recent activity, also in a right-lateral sense.[4]

Earthquake

The first event, with a magnitude of 6.3, struck at 11:11 AFT (06:41 UTC).[1] A magnitude 5.5 aftershock occurred eight minutes later.[5] Another magnitude 6.3 event struck at 11:42 AFT (07:12 UTC),[2] followed by a magnitude 5.9 aftershock.[6] Both events and the Mw 5.9 aftershock had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).[1][2][6]

The United States Geological Survey said these earthquakes were the result of shallow thrust faulting. The fault plane solution indicate a rupture source striking east–west with a north or south dip. The seismicity of Afghanistan is attributed to the complex and active tectonic interactions between the Arabian, Eurasian, and Indian plates. Within 250 km (160 mi) of the 7 October earthquakes epicenters, there have been seven magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes with epicenters in Iran. These include a Mw  7.3 earthquake in May 1997 and a Mw  7.1 earthquake in 1979.[1] In June 2022, eastern Afghanistan was affected by an earthquake that killed over 1,000 people.[7]

According to seismologists, these earthquakes had epicenters between the Siakhubulak Fault in the north and Herat Fault in the south. According to satellite data from Sentinel-1A, an area measuring 30 km (19 mi) by 15 km (9.3 mi) and extending east–west around the location of these earthquakes was uplifted. Meanwhile the satellite detected subsidence in a small area east of the uplifted zone. The seismologists added that the ground deformation was diffuse and inferred the earthquakes were associated with a blind thrust fault. The fault responsible is likely a structure located between the Herat and Siakhubulak faults.[8]

Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology released two possible finite fault models for the second large earthquake. In both models, no slip occurred at the top depth of the model. The first model is a north-dipping, east-southeast–west-northwest striking thrust fault. The rupture mechanism was reverse-faulting with a small right-lateral component, initiating at a depth of 5.0 km (3.1 mi). In this model, the maximum slip was 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) at 4.8 km (3.0 mi) depth and immediately east of the hypocenter. Slip of 1 m (3 ft 3 in) or greater was observed east and west of the hypocenter although the largest slip (>2 m (6 ft 7 in)) was observed to the east.[9]

In the latter model, the fault dips to the south and strikes east–west. The focal depth is inferred to be 5.8 km (3.6 mi); the zone of maximum slip is located east of the hypocenter, where it peaked at 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in). Overall, to the immediate east and west of the hypocenter, the slip was about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) although the larger values were observed further away.[9]

Impact

According to Taliban officials, the death toll was 2,795.[10][11] The World Health Organization said most of the casualties were women and children who died in their homes when they collapsed. At the time of the earthquakes, most men were outdoors, the organization added.[12] More than 2,000 people were also injured.[13] The United Nations recorded 1,688 wounded and 516 missing in villages across Zindajan District.[14] All homes in these villages collapsed. The organization also estimated 11,585 individuals were affected by the earthquakes.[15] Among the villages affected were Mahal Wadakah, where 20 people died, Dasht Hows, Bahadorzai, and Zoryan.[16] Telephone communications were also lost.[17] In addition to the destruction in Herat Province, collapsed houses and injuries were also reported in the neighbouring provinces of Badghis and Farah.[18][19]

Over 2,000 houses were destroyed across 20 villages.[14] Homes constructed of mud constituted the hardest-hit settlements; a resident of one of the affected areas said many homes collapsed during the first earthquake.[20] An official representing the National Disaster Management Authority said in several villages with populations of 1,000, only 100 out of an estimated 300 houses remained intact.[21]

Twelve villages in Zinda Jan District[22] and six in Ghorian District were destroyed.[23] The village of Nayeb Rafi was completely razed and nearly 80 percent of its population perished.[24] In Siah Aab, Zinda Jan District, 300 inhabitants perished.[25] Entire families, including some with 30 members, were reportedly trapped under the rubble.[26] In the village of Sarboland, dozens of houses were levelled and a resident said at least 30 people died.[27] Up to 170 people were reported to have died in the village of Kashkak.[28] Hundreds of people remained trapped beneath collapsed ruins, said a government official on 8 October.[7]

Medieval-era minarets in Herat also sustained damage.[13] Plaster from walls fell while parts of buildings collapsed in the city.[27] In Iran, one person in Torbat-e Jam was injured[29] and minor damage to houses occurred in Taybad.[30]

Aftermath

The earthquakes occurred at a time when the region was struggling to cope with multiple crises such as displacement caused by decades of war, a years-long drought, and a huge reduction in foreign aid since the Taliban takeover in 2021.[28]

The World Health Organization dispatched 12 ambulances to Zinda Jan District to transport casualties to hospitals.[31] The United Nations dispatched four ambulances carrying doctors and psychosocial support counsellors to a hospital. The Associated Press reported on 9 October that three mobile health teams were expected to be in Zinda Jan District. Five medical tents designed to assist 80 patients were established by Doctors Without Borders at Herat Regional Hospital. Seven teams of the Afghan Red Crescent Society were involved in rescue efforts while more teams were expected to arrive from eight other provinces. A spokesman for the organization said people made homeless were residing at a temporary shelter.[7] The organization also provided tarpaulins, water storage containers, kitchen appliances, blankets and many other essentials.[32] UNICEF dispatched 10,000 hygiene kits, 5,000 family kits, 1,500 sets of winter clothes and blankets, 1,000 tarpaulins, and basic household items to the area.[33]

The national director of World Vision Afghanistan said on 9 October that "the situation is worse than we imagined", adding that people were still attempting to rescue those trapped under debris with their hands.[34] Communication outage and blocked roads hampered rescue missions. In affected villages, residents used shovels and their bare hands to retrieve survivors beneath the rubble.[20] An Afghan police spokesperson said on 8 October that the affected people required food and shelter.[22] Personnel from the military and nonprofit organizations such as the Red Crescent also participated in rescue missions.[7] The World Food Program said their workers were distributing food packages. Food packages were ready for 20,000 people; each package sufficient to sustain a family of seven for a month. The organization was also preparing to provide food support for up to 70,000 people.[35] Athlete Rashid Khan pledged his Cricket World Cup fees to help victims of the earthquake and announced that a fundraising campaign would be set up.[36]

Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the victims of the earthquake.[37] The Taliban appealed publicly for aid.[37] At a news conference on 8 October, the Taliban said all international and internal organizations support was wanted.[38] A provincial health department official said over 200 bodies were transported to hospitals and many of the dead were women and children. The main hospital of Herat prepared for the large inflow of victims by lining-up beds outside.[13] At Herat Hospital, a health worker said vans carrying bodies were arriving every minute. Many health workers at the hospital were overwhelmed at the number of injured and the morgue had been overrun.[10] The Taliban governor's office in Kandahar said 10 teams including 37 doctors and nurses were sent to Herat Province. Kandahar's public health director said the teams were also transporting 2 tons of medicine.[32]

About 2,100 displaced people fled to Herat.[16] Many hospitals in Herat became overwhelmed by patients. At the Herat Regional Hospital, there were support teams from Médecins Sans Frontières. Although most patients did not have life-threatening injuries, many remained at the hospital because their homes were uninhabitable.[39]

By 10 October, approximately 72 hours after the earthquakes, rescue efforts had subsided. Mass funerals were held in the affected villages.[25] Three hundred people were given a mass funeral and burial in Siah Ab.[40] More than 35 rescue teams from military and nonprofit organizations had been deployed.[41]

International reactions

  •  Canada: Canada's foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly said that her thoughts were with Afghans, adding "Canada stands ready to support the Afghan people." International development minister Ahmed Hussen also indicated that the country was closely monitoring the situation.[42]
  •  China: Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Zhao Xing announced that his government and its charitable institutions were ready to give all types of help.[43] The Chinese Red Cross Society offered $200,000 in aid.[44]
  •  Iran: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir promised humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in a phone call with Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Rescue teams from Iran arrived with advanced and complete equipment to speed up the delivery of aid. Ten teams including 50 rescue workers and 500 tents, 1,000 pieces of moquette, 4,000 blankets, 500 dishes, and 500 food packages, along with search equipment were sent.[45][46][47]
  •  Kazakhstan: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the delivery of humanitarian assistance including food, tents, medicines, clothing and other necessary items, as well as the deployment of rescue personnel and dogs to Afghanistan.[48]
  •  Kosovo: President Vjosa Osmani expressed her condolences to the victims of the earthquake.[49]
  •  Pakistan: The National Disaster Management Authority made preparations to supply essential relief items. Pakistan sent a medical team, field hospital, 50 tents, medicines and 500 blankets to the earthquake-hit region on the "specific request" of the Afghan government. High-ranking officials from the body also discussed the situation with Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, and other department personnel.[50]
  •  Singapore: The Singapore Red Cross pledged US$50,000 to support the humanitarian effort.[51]
  •  Turkey: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its condolences to the people of Afghanistan and expressed sympathy for the recovery of the injured.[52] The Ministry of National Defense announced that an aircraft containing emergency relief materials and equipment of AFAD[53] had departed from Murted Air Base for Afghanistan.[54]
  •  United States: Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States was "carefully following the impact of the earthquake", adding that its humanitarian partners were "responding with urgent aid in support of the people of Afghanistan."[55]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d National Earthquake Information Center (2023-10-07). "M 6.3 – 35 km NNE of Zindah Jān, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  2. ^ a b c National Earthquake Information Center (2023-10-07). "M 6.3 – 26 km NNE of Zindah Jān, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  3. ^ Wheeler, R. L.; Rukstales, K. S. (2007). "Seismotectonic Map of Afghanistan and Adjacent Areas" (PDF). Open File Report 2007-1104. United States Geological Survey. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  4. ^ Shroder, J. F.; Eqrar, N.; Waizy, H.; Ahmadi, H.; Weihs, B. J. (2021). "Review of the Geology of Afghanistan and its water resources" (PDF). International Geology Review. 64 (7): 1009–1031. doi:10.1080/00206814.2021.1904297. S2CID 236589221. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  5. ^ National Earthquake Information Center (2023-10-07). "M 5.5 – 29 km NE of Zindah Jān, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  6. ^ a b National Earthquake Information Center (2023-10-07). "M 5.9 – 35 km NNW of Herāt, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  7. ^ a b c d Butt, Riazat (2023-10-08). "Afghanistan earthquake death toll reaches 2,000". Global News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  8. ^ Hubbard, Judith; Bradley, Kykle (2023-10-08). "Two magnitude 6.3 earthquakes strike northwestern Afghanistan". Earthquake Insights. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  9. ^ a b "Earthquake with magnitude of Mwp 6.4 on date 07-10-2023 and time 09:12:53 (Italy) in region Northwestern Afghanistan [Land: Afghanistan]". National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  10. ^ a b Makoii, Akhtar Mohammad (2023-10-09). "Afghan earthquake survivors sleep amid rubble as death toll nears 3,000". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  11. ^ "Afghan earthquakes kill 2,445, Taliban say, as deaths mount". NBC News. Agence France-Presse. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  12. ^ "Most casualties in recent Afghan earthquakes are women, children -WHO". Reuters. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  13. ^ a b c Yawar, Mohammad Yunus (2023-10-08). "Afghan earthquakes kill 2,053, Taliban say, as death toll spikes". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  14. ^ a b Haqjo, Omid; Faiez, Rahim (2023-10-10). "Afghans still hope to find survivors from quake that killed over 2,000 in western Herat province". Associated Press. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  15. ^ "Afghanistan: Flash Update #2 Earthquake in Herat Province, Afghanistan, 8 October 2023 (as of 22.00)". ReliefWeb. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  16. ^ a b "More than 2,000 people killed as earthquake strikes western Afghanistan". CNN. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  17. ^ "Death toll from strong earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan rises to over 2,000". Associated Press. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  18. ^ "زلزله شدیدی ولایات بادغیس و هرات افغانستان را لرزاند" (in Persian). Anadolu Agency. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  19. ^ "Several Strong Earthquakes Shake Western Region of Country". TOLOnews. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  20. ^ a b "Afghanistan earthquake: Race to rescue victims in Herat Province". BBC News. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  21. ^ "Hundreds Feared Dead In Powerful Earthquakes In Afghanistan's Herat Region". Radio Free Europe. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  22. ^ a b "Death toll from Afghanistan earthquake exceeds 2,500". Anadolu Agency. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  23. ^ Makoii, Akhtar Mohammad (2023-10-08). "Afghanistan earthquake has killed more than 2,000, Taliban say". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  24. ^ "TOLOnews – 6pm News – 08 October 2023". TOLOnews. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  25. ^ a b "Rescue efforts wind down in quake-hit Afghanistan as villages bury dead". The Straits Times. Reuters. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  26. ^ Kaveh, Amin (2023-10-08). "زلزله فاجعه‌بار هرات؛ هزاران تن کشته، زخمی یا ناپدید شده‌اند" [Herat's catastrophic earthquake; Thousands of people have been killed, injured or disappeared] (in Persian). 8 Sobh Daily. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  27. ^ a b "120 dead in Afghanistan quake". The Manila Times. Agence France-Presse. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  28. ^ a b "Dust and despair in Afghan village wiped out by quakes". France 24. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  29. ^ "یکی از شهروندان تربت جام دچار تروما و مصدومیت شد" [One of the citizens of Torbat Jam was traumatized and injured] (in Persian). ILNA. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  30. ^ "زلزله در تایباد خسارت عمده‌ای نداشت" [The earthquake did not cause major damage in Taybad] (in Persian). Young Journalist's Club. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  31. ^ "Powerful earthquake kills more than 100 people in western Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  32. ^ a b "هرات کې مرګونې زلزله؛ د ژغورنې او موندنې هڅې لا هم روانې دي" [Deadly earthquake in Herat; Rescue and search efforts are still ongoing]. BBC (in Pashto). 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  33. ^ Chen, Heather (2023-10-09). "Aid group warns devastation from Afghanistan earthquake 'worse than we imagined'". CNN (in Pashto). Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  34. ^ Heather, Chen (2023-10-09). "Aid group warns devastation from Afghanistan earthquake 'worse than we imagined'". CNN. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  35. ^ "WFP initiates efforts to aid 70,000 earthquake-affected individuals". Amu TV. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  36. ^ "Afghanistan earthquake death toll rises to 2,000: Taliban officials". Aljazeera. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  37. ^ a b "100 killed, 500 injured as magnitude 6.3 quakes hit western Afghanistan". France 24. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  38. ^ "Quakes prompt Taliban to seek international support". NHK World-Japan. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  39. ^ Cai, Derek; Guinto, Joel; Limaye, Yogita (2023-10-09). "Afghanistan earthquake: More than 1,000 dead as villagers dig for survivors". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  40. ^ "Mass funeral held for Afghan quake victims, families still missing". Khaleej Times. Agence France-Presse. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  41. ^ "Afghans grieve as scramble for earthquake survivors continues". Al Jazeera. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  42. ^ "Afghan Canadians unite to offer support following deadly earthquake". CTV News. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  43. ^ "Desperate people dig out dead and injured from quakes that killed over 2000 in Afghanistan". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  44. ^ "Afghanistan earthquake: More than 1,000 dead as villagers dig for survivors". BBC. 2023-10-09.
  45. ^ "Iran's aid to victims of earthquake in Afghanistan". Iran Press. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  46. ^ "Iran sends aid, rescuers to quake-hit Afghanistan". Tehran Times. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  47. ^ Ul Khaliq, Riyaz (2023-10-10). "Afghan, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Herat earthquake aftermath". AA. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  48. ^ primeminister.kz. "Қазақстан Ауғанстанға құтқарушылар мен гуманитарлық көмек жібереді" (in Kazakh). Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  49. ^ Osmani, Vjosa [@VjosaOsmaniPRKS] (2023-10-08). "We express our heartfelt condolences to families who have lost their loved ones in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, a tragedy that has taken thousands of lives. We wish a swift recovery to all those injured and strength to the people of Afghanistan" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  50. ^ "Pakistan to send relief items, rescue teams to Afghanistan as quake death toll passes 2,400". Arab News. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  51. ^ Hamzah, Aqil (2023-10-09). "Singapore Red Cross to give over $68k to support quake victims in Afghanistan". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  52. ^ @MFATurkiye (2023-10-08). "Press Release Regarding the Earthquake in Afghanistan" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  53. ^ "تورکیې په افغانستان کې زلزله ځپلو ته د مرستې لاس اوږد کړ" [Turkey extended a helping hand to the victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan.] (in Pashto). TRT Haber. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  54. ^ Enes Calli, Muhammed (2023-10-09). "Türkiye sends relief goods to earthquake-hit Afghanistan". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  55. ^ Blinken, Antony [@SecBlinken] (2023-10-08). "The United States is carefully tracking the impact of yesterday's earthquake in northwestern Afghanistan. Our humanitarian partners are responding with urgent aid in support of the people of Afghanistan" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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