Survivors of a powerful earthquake in northern Afghanistan that killed more than 20 people and injured hundreds dug through the rubble of their homes on Tuesday, trying to salvage what they could after spending the night outside in the bitter cold.
Rain was forecast for the region, adding to the suffering of the survivors.
The 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred on Monday before 1 a.m. local time, its epicenter was 22 km (14 mi) west-southwest of the city of Khulm in Samangan province. Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority put the death toll at 21 as of Tuesday morning, with another 819 people injured, 25 of them seriously.
The tremors also damaged historic sites, including Afghanistan’s famous Blue Mosque in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious monuments, and the Bagh-e-Jahan Nama palace in Khulm.
The minaret of the Blue Mosque was badly damaged, and some bricks and tiles fell from some of the mosque’s walls, while other parts of the centuries-old site showed cracks, said Mahmoodullah Zarar, head of information and culture in Balkh province.
“The holy shrine is a valuable monument of Islamic values and the history of the Islamic era, … (and) it is in dire need of repair and restoration,” he said, adding that information about the damage had been shared with the Ministry of Arts and Culture.
The mosque is the main gathering place for Islamic and cultural festivals.
The most damaged historical monument in the province was the 19th-century Bagh-e Jehan Nama palace, said Firozuddin Munib, Samangan provincial information and culture chief. Built between 1890 and 1892, the palace and its surrounding gardens are a popular place for visitors.
“Rebuilding this palace is very important because winter is coming, the area is cold and it rains, which can cause more damage,” Munib said, adding that the earthquake caused the collapse of a surrounding wall and one tower, as well as cracks in the palace and other towers.
In Khulme, after the shocks, the survivors who spent the night outside were shocked.
“People are still scared because of last night’s earthquake because there was a slight tremor during the day,” said Asadullah Samangani, a local resident. “Last night we spent the night in the open field, the weather was very cold, we could not sleep, we feel that there will be another earthquake now.
He said the authorities had sent tents and essential items, but his home was “totally destroyed, nothing was left intact to use. Our children were sick in the morning because we spent the night in the cold, and all the household items were under the rubble.
“People from other areas have come to help, but our belongings are still under the rubble and damaged. Our women are facing great difficulties, we have no toilet and no place for our women to spend the night.”
Rescue crews were still working in some areas on Tuesday and were expected to finish by the end of the day.
The World Health Organization reported that several health facilities were partially damaged, while a hospital laboratory in Samangan Province collapsed and important medical equipment was destroyed. Emergency operations are still underway with health teams and rescue units.
Impoverished Afghanistan often faces difficulties in responding to natural disasters, especially in remote regions. Buildings tend to be low-rise, usually made of concrete and brick, while houses in rural and remote areas are made of mud bricks and wood, many of which are poorly constructed.
In August, an earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people.