Twin earthquakes in western Afghanistan kill at least 22

Afghan troopers pause on a street in Badghis province, northwest of Afghanistan, Wednesday, July, 7 2021. (AP Picture/Mirwis Omari)

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN --
Two earthquakes rattled Afghanistan's western Badghis province alongside the border with Turkmenistan on Monday afternoon, killing no less than 22 individuals, an area official mentioned.

There have been fears the loss of life toll might rise additional as the primary rescuers reached a number of the distant villages struck by the temblors in what's considered one of Afghanistan's most impoverished and underdeveloped areas.

Bas Mohammad Sarwari, chief of the province's tradition and data division, mentioned scores of houses have been destroyed within the quakes.

The U.S. Geological Survey registered a magnitude 5.3 quake at 2 p.m. and a second, magnitude 4.9 at 4 p.m. native time. They struck 41 kilometres (25 miles) east and 50 kilometres (31 miles) southeast of Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital.

Sarwari says frightened residents have been fleeing their houses for security.

The extra highly effective of the temblors hit Qadis district within the southern tip of the province, the place nearly all of the injury and deaths occurred, in line with Sarwari. Officers have been nonetheless gathering info. By dusk solely 4 villages had been heard from, he mentioned. The primary 4.9 quake was centered in Muqur district, he mentioned.

“Tomorrow we've plan to ship rescue groups in addition to help for the affected households,” he mentioned.

Sarwari mentioned the tremors have been felt throughout the province. Some houses in Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital, suffered cracks however no main accidents or widespread injury, he added.