KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Survivors of a robust earthquake in northern Afghanistan that killed greater than 20 individuals and injured a whole lot had been digging via the rubble of their properties Tuesday, attempting to salvage what belongings they may after spending the night time exterior within the bitter chilly.
Rain was forecast for the area, additional compounding the distress for survivors.
The 6.3 magnitude quake struck simply earlier than 1 a.m. native time Monday, with an epicenter 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of the city of Khulm in Samangan province. Afghanistan’s Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority mentioned that by Tuesday morning, the dying toll stood at 21, whereas an additional 819 individuals had been injured, 25 of them critically.
The temblor additionally broken historic websites, together with Afghanistan’s famed Blue Mosque within the northern metropolis of Mazar-e-Sharif, which is one among Afghanistan’s most revered spiritual landmarks, and the Bagh-e-Jahan Nama Palace in Khulm.
The Blue Mosque’s minaret was badly broken, whereas some bricks and tiles had fallen from among the mosque’s partitions and cracks appeared in different elements of the centuries-old website, mentioned Mahmoodullah Zarar, Head of Info and Tradition of Balkh Province.
“The Holy Shrine is a precious monument of Islamic values and the historical past of the Islamic period, … (and) is in dire want of restore and restoration,” he mentioned, including that data on the injury had been shared with the ministry of artwork and tradition.
The mosque is a serious gathering place throughout Islamic and cultural festivals.
Probably the most severely broken historic monument within the province was the nineteenth century Bagh-e Jehan Nama Palace, mentioned Firozuddin Munib, Samangan province’s Head of Info and Tradition. The palace, inbuilt 1890-1892, and its adjoining gardens are a well-liked website for guests.
“The restoration of this palace is essential as a result of winter is coming and the realm is chilly, and it’s raining, which can trigger additional injury,” Munib mentioned, including that the quake precipitated a surrounding wall and one tower to break down and likewise led to cracks within the palace and different towers.
In Khulm, aftershocks rattled survivors, who spent the night time out within the open.
“Individuals are nonetheless scared due to final night time’s earthquake as a result of small tremors had been felt throughout the day,” mentioned native resident Asadullah Samangani. “We spent the night time within the open floor final night time, the climate was very chilly, we couldn’t sleep, we really feel like there will likely be one other earthquake now.”
He mentioned authorities had despatched tents and primary requirements, however that his residence was “utterly destroyed, nothing was left intact to make use of. Our youngsters had been all sick within the morning as a result of we had spent the night time within the chilly, and all of the home goods had been underneath the rubble.
“Individuals from different areas got here to assist, however our belongings are nonetheless underneath rubble and broken. Our ladies are dealing with nice difficulties, we should not have a rest room and we should not have a spot the place our ladies can spend the night time.”
Rescue crews had been nonetheless working in some areas on Tuesday, and had been anticipated to complete by the tip of the day.
The World Well being Group mentioned partial injury had been reported in a number of well being services, whereas the laboratory on the Samangan Provincial Hospital had collapsed, destroying important medical gear. Emergency response operations with well being groups and rescue items had been ongoing, it mentioned.
Impoverished Afghanistan typically faces problem in responding to pure disasters, particularly in distant areas. Buildings are usually low-rise constructions, principally of concrete and brick, with properties in rural and outlying areas constituted of mud bricks and wooden, many poorly constructed.
In August, a quake in jap Afghanistan killed greater than 2,200 individuals.
