Survivors of a series of powerful earthquakes that struck western Afghanistan on Saturday have endured a second night sleeping amidst the debris of flattened villages as they continue their search for loved ones, armed with shovels. The death toll is nearing 3,000, according to senior Taliban officials.

In the regional capital of Herat city, residents found refuge in public parks and streets, gripped by fear of further tremors. On Monday, the United States Geological Survey reported new earthquakes in rural areas, measuring 5.9, 4.9, and 4.7 in magnitude.

“We are concerned that additional casualties may have occurred in that area as well,” stated a Taliban official. “Our teams are currently on their way to provide assistance to those affected regions.”

The earthquake on Saturday, measuring 6.3 in magnitude and followed by eight robust aftershocks, struck remote areas near Herat. It brought down rural homes and sent city dwellers into the streets in panic. Afghanistan was already grappling with a humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, which severely impacted the healthcare system. Additionally, the group’s contentious relations with international aid organizations stemmed from its ban on women working for the UN and NGOs.