Earthquake in Afghanistan; death toll crosses 4000, more than 2000 houses destroyed

KABUL: The death toll from the massive earthquake in Afghanistan's Herat has crossed 4000. Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said that nearly two thousand houses were completely destroyed in two earthquakes that measured 6.2 on the richter scale. Mullah Sheikh, the spokesperson of the disaster management authority, said that more than 4000 people died in about 20 villages and houses from 1980 to 2000 were completely destroyed. He also said that 35 rescue teams from different parts are engaged in relief work in the earthquake affected areas. The earthquake struck in Herat after 12 noon Indian time on Saturday. Afghanistan Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund visited the affected area of ​​Herat the other day. Meanwhile, China has provided an emergency assistance of 200,000 US dollars to Afghanistan. Herat is considered the cultural capital of Afghanistan. According to the figures presented by the World Bank in 2019, nearly 1.9 million people live in this province.