Saturday's magnitude 6.3 quake -- followed by eight strong aftershocks -- jolted areas 30 kilometres northwest of the provincial capital of Herat, toppling swathes of rural homes and sending panicked city dwellers surging into the streets.
The World Health Organization said more than 600 houses were destroyed or partially damaged across at least 12 villages in Herat province, with some 4,200 people affected.- 'Everything turned to sand' -"We came home and saw that actually there was nothing left. Everything had turned to sand," said the 32-year-old, adding that some 30 bodies had been recovered.
In Herat city, residents fled their homes and schools, hospitals and offices evacuated when the first quake was felt. There were few reports of casualties in the metropolitan area, however.