October 7, 2023 Earthquake: Herat, Afghanistan

Reference #13456:

Tectonic Summary

The October 7, 2023 M 6.3 earthquake near Herat, Afghanistan, occurred as the result of thrust faulting at shallow depths near the far western terminus of the Hindu Kush mountain range. This earthquake was followed by a second M 6.3 earthquake that occurred approximately 30 minutes later. Both earthquakes occurred on east-west striking fault planes that dip to either the north or south. The earthquakes occurred within the Eurasia plate in an intracontinental mountain belt.

Earthquakes in Afghanistan and its surrounding regions are common due to the complex and active interactions between the Arabia, Eurasia, and India plates. Earthquakes in western and central Afghanistan are primarily influenced by the northward movement of the Arabia plate relative to the Eurasia plate. Since 1920, seven other earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger have occurred within 250 km of the October 7 earthquake, all within Iran. These previous earthquakes included a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in May 1997 that caused 1,567 fatalities, and a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in November 1979.

Reference #13622:

Afghanistan's disaster management ministry on Friday revised downward the death toll from multiple earthquakes to around 1,000 from an earlier figure of over 2,400, a spokesman said.

Reference #13621:

1,384 people (759 females and 625 males) are reported to have been killed and 1,853 people injured (1,137 females and 716 males) by the earthquakes. Women and children are overlyrepresented within reported casualties.

Assessments completed to date indicate that 3,067 homes have been affected across Zindajan, Injil, Kushk / Rabat-e-Sangai, Ghulan, Herat and Khosan districts, including 2,499 which have been completely destroyed, 363 which have been severely damaged and 250 which have been moderately damaged. More than three quarters of homes destroyed are located in two districts – Zinjadin (1,353) and Injil districts (586). Additionally, 21,300 buildings are estimated to have sustained damage.

Reference #13671:

1,482 people dead and 2,100 injured. 10,002 homes destroyed, 220,430 severe damage. 40 health care facilities damaged. More than 275,000 people in 382 villages were directly affected, mainly in the districts of Herat, Injil, Kushk, Zindajan, Gulran, Guzara, Ghoryan, Karukh, and Koshan. (Note: includes impacts from series of earthquakes and aftershocks hit Herat Province in western Afghanistan between 7 and 15)

Reference #13724:

50 million in economic losses (Oct 07-15 events)

Reference #1250:

2,000 deaths; 9,000 injured

Note: effects for this event include impacts from series of earthquakes and aftershocks hit Herat Province in western Afghanistan between 7 and 15 October 2023, including 11 & 15 October events.