A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Afghanistan on Wednesday, claiming at least one life and causing panic among residents already traumatized by a series of tremors that killed around 2,000 people at the weekend.
The dawn quake hit around 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the provincial capital of Herat, where thousands were spending a fourth night in the open after Saturday’s quakes flattened their villages.
The quake was followed by aftershocks measuring 5.0 and 4.1, but an AFP reporter said damage in Herat city — home to more than half a million — was minimal.
Many residents have camped in tents, cars and gardens since Saturday’s magnitude 6.3 quake and a series of powerful aftershocks.
Afghanistan is frequently hit by deadly earthquakes, but the weekend disaster was the worst to strike the war-ravaged country in more than 25 years.