In Afghanistan, rescuers are still searching for survivors under the rubble after the earthquake that struck the west of the country last Saturday. More than 2,000 people were killed in the earthquake.

It is one of the deadliest earthquakes In Afghanistan over the past two decades. The Taliban, which controls power in the country, estimates that about 2,000 people were injured. On Sunday morning, the Taliban reported more than 9,000 people wounded, but that number was later revised.

About 2,000 homes are said to have been destroyed in twenty different baptisteries and cities. Some villages were completely destroyed.

The epicenter of the earthquake was about 40 kilometers northwest of Herat, the second largest city in Afghanistan. Fearing aftershocks, many city residents slept in parks and streets last night.

The earthquake reached a magnitude of 6.3 and was followed by severe aftershocks. The region was also exposed to three aftershocks today, the most violent of which reached a magnitude of 5.9. A delegation from the Taliban, which has been in power in Afghanistan since 2021, visited the region today to provide emergency aid and distribute aid.

Because the earthquake occurred in a remote area, it was difficult for rescuers to reach the disaster area. According to a senior Taliban official, there are areas that are only accessible for the first time today.

The lack of tools also makes the rescue operation difficult. The International Rescue Committee, a non-governmental organization that provides humanitarian aid in disaster areas, has warned that the shortage of such equipment may increase the death toll as survivors trapped under the rubble may not be freed.

Pictures circulating on social media show Taliban rescue teams with their weapons strapped on their shoulders, moving pieces of rock and using bulldozers to search for survivors.

Neighboring countries Pakistan and Iran have pledged to provide humanitarian aid and will send rescue workers to the region. The Chinese Red Cross has offered financial assistance. Initially, the amount will reach approximately 190 thousand euros.

Because of the Taliban regime, many Western aid organizations cannot access the country. Journalists also find it difficult to access the area, meaning there is little knowledge of the earthquake’s consequences

A World Health Organization employee told Reuters news agency after touring Afghan hospitals that about two-thirds of the seriously injured victims were women or children. This is said to have something to do with the time the earthquake occurred, i.e. 11:00 am. Around this time, many men in Afghanistan were not in their homes, so they did not end up in the rubble.

Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, the country has been suffering from a humanitarian crisis and its healthcare system has been severely damaged. The country’s healthcare sector was largely dependent on donor money from abroad, but after the Taliban seized power, many countries halted their aid.