New quake rattles Herat, Badghis provinces

KABUL (Pajhwok): Residents of western Herat and Badghis provinces have once again been scared out of homes by a magnitude 4.9 earthquake.

The fresh tremor occurred at around 11:57 pm last night, jolting people out of sleep and forcing them to come out of homes.

The US Geological Survey reported the latest quake in the region measured 4.9 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was in Zinda Jan district of Herat.

Other sources said the quake measured 5.2. Residents said some of them were sleeping while others prepared to go to bed when the quake struck.

An inhabitant of Herat City, Noor Agha, told Pajhwok Afghan News they had also felt two small tremors earlier in the day.

Most of the people, who had come out of homes in the day, were once again forced to stay out in the cold, he said.

The devastating earthquake that hit Herat on October 7 was followed by dozens of small tremors.

The Oct 7 quake killed about 2,500 people while another 4,000 were wounded. Thousands of houses were destroyed.

aw/mud