A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the southeastern part of Afghanistan on Thursday, September 4, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles), as reported by the center.
This is the third earthquake to hit Afghanistan in recent days. On midnight of August 31 and on September 2, the eastern part of the country experienced 6.0 and 5.5 magnitude earthquakes respectively, leading to villages being flattened and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. Hamdullah Fitrat, a spokesperson for the Taliban authorities, stated on Thursday that these earthquakes have resulted in at least 2,205 deaths and 3,640 injuries. Rescue and emergency personnel are intensifying their search for survivors in the disaster areas.
In the earthquake that struck on the midnight of August 31 in Kunar province, many areas suffered severe damage, and rescue efforts have been slow. Following the Islamic tradition of swift burials, survivors have buried many of the deceased in mass graves.
“That is my daughter, the other one is my sister. This grave is for my brother, that one is for my mother, the other one is for my father, and there’s my other brother,” said 25-year-old resident Wazir, pointing to a row of freshly dug graves, as he spoke to Afghanistan’s TOLO news network.