Twin earthquakes in western Afghanistan kill at least 22 people

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Two earthquakes hit western Afghanistan’s Badghis province along the border with Turkmenistan yesterday afternoon, killing at least 22 people, a local official said.

There were fears the death toll could rise as the first rescuers reached some of the remotest earthquake-stricken villages in one of Afghanistan’s poorest and most backward regions.

Bas Muhammad Sarwari, head of the district’s Department of Culture and Information, said dozens of houses were destroyed in the earthquakes.

The US Geological Survey recorded a 5.3-magnitude earthquake at 2 p.m. local time and a 4.9-magnitude earthquake two hours later.

The shells hit 41 km east and 50 km southeast of Qal’at Nau, the provincial capital.

Mr. Sarwari says terrified residents were fleeing their homes in search of safety.

The most powerful earthquakes hit the Kadis region at the southern tip of the province, where the majority of the damage and deaths occurred, according to Mr. Sarwari.

He said officials were still gathering information, but by nightfall only four villages had been heard.

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He said that the first 4.9 earthquake was centered in the Muqawar region.

“Tomorrow we have plans to send rescue teams in addition to helping the affected families,” he said.

Sarwari said the quake was felt across the province. He added that some homes in Qal’at Nao, the provincial capital, had cracks but no major injuries or extensive damage.

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