Survivors of Afghanistan earthquake overnight in the open; The earthquake destroyed the historical site

KABUL, Afghanistan – Survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan, killing more than 20 people and injuring hundreds, were digging through the rubble of their homes on Tuesday, trying to salvage what possessions they could after spending the night outside in the bitter cold.

Rain is expected to hit the area, further exacerbating the misery of survivors.

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred just before 1 a.m. local time on Monday, with its epicenter 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of the town of Kholm in Samangan province. Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said that by Tuesday morning, the death toll had reached 21 people, while another 819 people were injured, 25 of them in serious condition.

The earthquake also damaged historic sites, including Afghanistan's famous Blue Mosque in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which is one of Afghanistan's most revered religious monuments, and the Bagh Jahan Nama Palace in Kholm.

Mahmoudullah Zarar, head of media and culture in Balkh Province, said that the minaret of the Blue Mosque was severely damaged, while some bricks and tiles fell from some of the mosque's walls and cracks appeared in other parts of the centuries-old site.

“The holy shrine is a valuable landmark of Islamic values ​​and history of the Islamic era… (and) is in dire need of repair and restoration,” he said, adding that information regarding the damage had been shared with the Ministry of Art and Culture.

The mosque is a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals.

Ferozuddin Munib, head of the Information and Culture Department of Samangan Province, said that the most damaged historical monument in the province was the Bagh Jehan Nama Palace, which dates back to the 19th century. The palace, built in 1890-1892, and its surrounding gardens are a popular site for visitors.

Munib said: “The restoration of this palace is very important because winter is coming and the region is cold and raining, which may cause more damage,” adding that the earthquake caused the collapse of a surrounding wall and one of the towers, and also led to cracks in the palace and other towers.

In Kholm, aftershocks shook survivors who spent the night outdoors.

Asadullah Samangani, a local resident, said: “People are still afraid because of last night's earthquake, as they felt small tremors during the day.” “We spent last night in the open ground, it was so cold, we couldn't sleep, and we feel like there will be another earthquake now.”

He said the authorities had sent tents and basic necessities, but his house was “completely destroyed, and nothing was left intact for use. Our children were all sick in the morning because we had spent the night in the cold, and all the household items were under the rubble.”

“People from other areas came to help, but our property is still under rubble and damaged. Our women are facing great difficulties. We do not have a toilet and we do not have a place where our women can spend the night.”

Rescue teams were still working in some areas on Tuesday and were expected to finish by the end of the day.

Partial damage was reported in several health facilities, while the laboratory at Samangan District Hospital collapsed, destroying vital medical equipment, the World Health Organization said. She added that emergency response operations with health teams and rescue units are continuing.

Impoverished Afghanistan often has difficulty responding to natural disasters, especially in remote areas. Buildings tend to be low-rise construction, mostly concrete and brick, with houses in rural and remote areas built of mud brick and timber, many of them poorly constructed.

In August, an earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 2,200 people.

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