Herat residents spend another night in the open

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): More than two weeks after a devastating earthquake hit western Herat province, residents folded up tents from parks and deserts and entered their homes.

But after Sunday’s fresh tremor, a large number of scared families were once again forced to camp out of their houses in streets and parks.

One resident Nasir Ahmad Frotan, who camped out in a city park, told Pajhwok Afghan News he had spent two weeks out of his home along with his wife and two children in biting cold to due to quake fears.

The strong earthquake and aftershocks have caused concern to the people, especially women and children. Some of them are suffering from mental problems as well, he said.

However the governor’s spokesman Maulvi Nisar Ahmad Ilyas called on the people to be patient and calm in case of natural disasters.

Ilyas said the overnight earthquake left women and children worrying, although the local administration had taken proper care of its people in recent days.

The latest quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, measuring 4.1 on the open-ended Richter scale. With its epicentre in Ghorian district, the quake did not cause any financial or human losses.

aw/mud