Consecutive 6.3 Magnitude Earthquakes Ravage Afghanistan

The spate of earthquakes in Afghanistan comes amid broad sanctions blocking financial support for the Taliban-ruled nation. (Image courtesy of the Council for International Development)

By: Raghav Akula

Three 6.3 magnitude earthquakes struck the western Afghanistan province of Herat on October 7, 11, and 15 in the nation’s deadliest series of seismic activity in decades. At least one powerful aftershock followed each earthquake, turning the region into the site of a humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates a death toll of 1,348 people and an injury count of over 1,700.

Most of those affected lived in villages along the border with Iran—regions whose population already struggled with extreme poverty and endured the US-led war against the Taliban. Many men, who spent the day working in Iran, returned home to find their homes leveled and their families killed, injured, or seeking refuge elsewhere. Some of them remained in the area to dig through the rubble, holding out hope that their family members had survived.

Over 40 medical facilities have recorded damage, affecting services for about 580,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. The UN announced that the second earthquake on October 11 demolished 100 percent of homes and six schools in the Zinda Jan district. Doctors Without Borders reported at least two additional deaths and 154 more injuries from the third quake—a comparatively lower casualty rate than the first because many residents were sleeping outside, either out of fear or because previous earthquakes had already leveled their homes. As survivors camp outdoors with little to no shelter, autumn temperatures continue to fall.

As of October 20, the UN has assessed two-thirds of the affected areas. Their evaluation reveals that the natural disasters have destroyed 21,500 homes, severely damaged 17,000 others, and impacted roughly 154,000 Afghans, including 7,500 pregnant women. More than 90% of the victims are women and children—a demographic that has particularly struggled under Taliban rule. The government has largely prohibited females from going to work or school, leaving them restricted to their homes. The UN is warning that Afghan women already face high levels of maternal death, gender-based violence, and hunger.

After the Taliban regained control in 2021, the international community isolated Afghanistan, cutting off aid and financial support. U.S. sanctions aim to prevent funds from reaching government leaders. However, the lack of global support is now complicating efforts to deliver critical aid to victims.

Nevertheless, the UN has broadcast an urgent appeal for $93.6 million in aid. The Taliban has also called for international support, as its healthcare system is almost entirely dependent on foreign countries. Other nations are skeptical about contributing money because of uncertainties regarding how the state will appropriate funds to those in need.

The Taliban has set up a commission to oversee recovery efforts, claiming that its workers were on the scene an hour after the first earthquake. These aid workers, however, dispute this narrative, arguing that the government’s shortage of information in the initial hours could have contributed to further loss of life. Their testimonials invoked questions concerning the Taliban’s ability to respond to major disasters.

Meanwhile, aid agencies like the Red Cross and UNICEF continue to implore the international community for assistance as authorities work to unravel the full toll of Afghanistan’s chain of disasters.