Over 2,000 dead after Afghan quakes

Afghanistan's Ministry of Disasters has said the death toll from Saturday's earthquakes has risen to 2,053, with 9,240 injured and 1,328 houses damaged or destroyed.

Amid the confusion, the death toll from Saturday's quakes spiked from 500 reported on Sunday morning by a Red Crescent spokesperson and 16 from Saturday night.

The quakes hit 35 km northwest of the city of Herat, with one measuring 6.3 magnitude, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

More than 200 dead had been brought to different hospitals, a Herat health department official who identified himself as Dr Danish told Reuters, adding most of them were women and children.

Bodies had been "taken to several places - military bases, hospitals," Danish said.

The quakes caused panic in Herat, resident Naseema said on Saturday.

"People left their houses, we all are on the streets," she wrote in a text message to Reuters, adding that the city was feeling follow-on tremors.

Meanwhile, the UAE has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Afghan people over the victims of the earthquake.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the people of Afghanistan and to the families of the victims in this tragedy, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.

UAE expresses solidarity with Afghan people and offers condolences over earthquake victims#WamNews https://t.co/CYFN6K5nIB pic.twitter.com/cQnVJR3B2U

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) October 8, 2023