"Tragic Quake Strikes Afghanistan: Over 2,000 Lives Lost in Kashkak Village Devastation"

Rescue Efforts Amidst Ruins

Amidst the haunting remnants of what was once the hardscrabble village of Kashkak in western Afghanistan, a devastating earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, accompanied by eight powerful aftershocks, has left more than 2,000 lives shattered. The village, once a collection of mud-brick homes on a dusty plateau, now lies in ruins, with volunteers working tirelessly to rescue survivors.

Heart-Wrenching Stories Unfold

"We took out several dead bodies; three of them were little children," shared Amir Hussain, a 33-year-old volunteer rescue worker who spent the night digging in hopes of finding survivors. Tragically, young lives were cut short as children, fresh from their school, lost their lives in the streets and within the remnants of their homes.

Grieving and Grappling with Loss

Maula Dad, a village rescue worker, shared the grim reality: "We were told that the number of deaths has reached up to 170." The official government toll stands at a staggering 2,053, marking an unprecedented tragedy with 1,300 homes crumbled across 13 villages in western Herat province.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

As the region copes with the aftermath, compounded by a longstanding history of war and a prolonged drought, the earthquake exacerbates an already dire situation. With the Taliban's return to power in 2021, foreign aid has significantly dwindled, leaving the affected communities grappling with profound challenges.

Hope Amidst Desolation

In the midst of this despair, humanitarian aid gradually reaches the hard-to-access village, providing essential supplies such as food, water, tents, and, somberly, coffins for the deceased. Red Crescent trucks unload provisions, and aid tents distribute necessities, offering a glimmer of hope in the midst of devastation.

Echoes of Loss: "There is nothing"

As children wander amidst the ruins, former homes now turned inside-out, the profound impact of the earthquake is starkly evident. Belongings, once cherished, lay exposed—backpacks, cookware, and toothbrushes, silent witnesses to lives disrupted. Amidst this scene, a grieving mother, Fatima, laments, "Everyone from our family is in the hospital. I haven't heard from them. We are all finished; there is nothing."

In the wake of this tragic event, the resilience of the affected communities and the collective effort to rebuild lives become paramount.

A devastating earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck the hardscrabble village of Kashkak in western Afghanistan, leaving over 2,000 lives shattered. Tragedy unfolded as volunteers, including 33-year-old Amir Hussain, worked tirelessly to rescue survivors, retrieving the bodies of children who had just come from school. The official death toll stood at 2,053, with 1,300 homes toppled across 13 villages. The region, already grappling with the aftermath of war and drought, faced an exacerbated humanitarian crisis with dwindling foreign aid since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Despite the bleak circumstances, humanitarian aid gradually reached the affected village, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation. Amidst the ruins, a grieving mother, Fatima, lamented the loss of family members, expressing a sense of finality: "We are all finished; there is nothing." The resilient spirit of the affected communities and the collective effort to rebuild lives emerged as crucial in the face of this tragic event.

By : Sunil Kumar, Attingal