Afghanistan – Afghan villagers and volunteers are working tirelessly to dig for survivors of a series of earthquakes that struck the country on October 8, 2023, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring thousands more.
The magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit 40km (24 miles) northwest of the city of Herat at about 11am on Saturday (06:30 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Strong aftershocks were felt in the neighbouring Badghis and Farah provinces.
A video on the internet shows a baby girl trapped in a collapsed building, buried up to her neck in debris. Rescuers use their hands to carefully lift the baby out of the ground, and they believe it’s the baby’s mother who’s helping. It’s uncertain whether the mother survived.
“I lost my wife and three children in the earthquake,” said one man, who was digging through the rubble of his home. “I don’t know what I’m going to do now.”
Aid began to trickle into the affected region on Sunday, but it was not enough to meet the needs of the thousands of people who had been displaced by the quakes. The United States and other countries also pledged to provide aid.
Many of the homes in the affected areas were destroyed, and residents are now living in makeshift shelters. There is a shortage of food, water, and medicine.
The earthquakes are a major blow to Afghanistan, which is already struggling with a humanitarian crisis. The country has been ravaged by decades of war, and it is now facing a severe economic crisis.
Aid agencies are working to provide assistance to the affected communities, but it is difficult to reach the remote areas.
In the meantime, Afghan villagers and volunteers are leading the search and rescue efforts. They are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings, looking for survivors.
The villagers are working with bare hands and simple tools. They are risking their own lives to save others.
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