First Assessment of Herat Afghanistan Earthquake: Preliminary Shelter and Housing Response in Zinda Jan District, West of Herat

Within one week, three magnitude 6.3 earthquakes struck Herat province: October 7th, 11th, and 15th. Over 2,400 fatalities were reported by the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, and more than 100,000 people were exposed to high-ground intensity. The epicenter was about 40 kilometers northwest of Herat city and brought significant causalities in these villages.

Miyamoto deployed a team to conduct a rapid assessment of 11 villages in Western Afghanistan’s Zinda Jan district in the Herat province. Miyamoto’s team conducted site visits and interviews to assess common failures to various building typologies and develop preliminary recommendations for recovery and reconstruction. Such recommendations include rapid sheltering solutions prior to the oncoming winter, seismic-resistant construction trainings, and the construction of compound walls to ensure the privacy and safety of residents, in particular women.