At least 2,000 people died and 600 buildings were damaged or destroyed in strong earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan, near the Iranian border, reports quoting a Taliban spokesman revealed.
The number of casualties is expected to rise with search and rescue operations being carried out to find people trapped under debris, AP reported, citing a UN statement.
The United States Geological Survey revealed that the epicentre of the first quake was about 40 kilometres northwest of Herat city, the cultural capital of Afghanistan. This was followed by three strong aftershocks of 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude.
Twelve villages in Zinda Jan and Ghoryan districts have been completely destroyed, ANI quoted officials as saying.
In June 2022, Afghanistan's Paktika province was rattled by a tremor of 5.9 magnitude, killing more than 1,000 people, injuring about 1,500 and damaging hundreds of houses.