UN: Afghan earthquake death toll reaches 26, including children

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Afghan villagers remove bricks after their home was destroyed by Monday’s earthquake in remote western Badghis province, Afghanistan, Tuesday January 18, 2022.

KABUL, Afghanistan – The United Nations on Tuesday raised the death toll from the two earthquakes that struck western Afghanistan the previous day to 26, saying the quakes destroyed three villages housing some 800 homes.

At least four people were injured, including women and children, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. On Tuesday, villagers in the area were still searching for family members and removing objects stuck under the mud.

According to the UN statement, hundreds of adobe houses that were destroyed were already exposed due to the heavy rains in the country. Many survivors spent the night in a shelter in their relatives’ homes while others remained in the rubble of their homes.

On Monday, the US Geological Survey recorded a 5.3-magnitude earthquake at 2 p.m. and a second with a magnitude of 4.9 at 4 p.m. local time. They struck 25 miles east and 31 miles southeast of Castle Nau, the provincial capital of Badghis. The province is located along the border with Turkmenistan and is one of the most backward and poorest regions of Afghanistan.

The UN statement said the earthquakes were felt in three western provinces: Badghis, Ghor and Herat.

“People whose homes have been damaged or destroyed are hosted by their relatives and other members of their communities,” the United Nations said. “Initial reports indicate that there is an urgent need for food, shelter, non-food items and heating materials.”

The Taliban, who overran the country in mid-August, called on international aid organizations to provide immediate assistance, including tents and other basic necessities for the victims. The Taliban put the death toll at 22; The discrepancy in numbers cannot be reconciled immediately.

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