The Herat Provincial Information and Culture Department has reported severe damage to the cultural heritage of the Herat, including Qala Iktyaruddin, due to recent earthquakes, as shown in published images.
The national TV, under the rule of the Taliban administration, stated on Tuesday with the republishing of this news, that some of the buildings, structures, and historic mosques in the city of Herat have been damaged as a result of recent earthquakes, especially the earthquake on Sunday, and are at risk of destruction.
Qala Ikhtyaruddin holds a central place in the city’s tumultuous history and is a remarkable testament to the region’s enduring citadels (Hisar). This historic fortress has witnessed significant events, including the siege of Herat by Alexander the Great in 330 BC as part of his campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Local media have also published images of the earthquake-induced destruction in the historic Jama Mosque of Herat.
This comes as a result of consecutive earthquakes in Herat, causing a portion of the intricate tilework of the Jama Mosque of Herat to collapse.
The Jama Mosque of Herat and the Qala Iktyaruddin (Fort) are important archaeological sites in Afghanistan.
On October 7th, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 shook Herat, followed shortly by another earthquake on October 11th, again with a severe magnitude of 6.3.
The casualty figures from these earthquakes have been reported to exceed 2,000 individuals.
