The 1956 Afghanistan earthquake occurred in the early morning of 10 June 1956, causing considerable damage and casualties in the area of Kabul, Bamyan and the Hindu Kush mountain range.[7] It had a magnitude of 7.3 on the surface-wave magnitude scale. The total number of deaths were between 300[5] and as high as 900.[4] According to Radio Afghanistan it was the heaviest registered earthquake ever in Afghanistan.[7]
Earthquake
It had an magnitude of 7.3 on the surface-wave magnitude scale at a depth of 25 km (16 mi).[8] A foreshock was recorded one day prior to the mainshock. The foreshock occurred in Sayghan District, Kahmard District and Bamyan.[9] Five aftershocks followed the mainshock within the next two days. The location of these events delineated a 50 km (31 mi) rupture length trending northeast. The northeast trend was also consistent with the meizoseismal area where the Mercalli intensity was VIII–IX (Severe–Violent). Rupture occurred north of the Herat Fault; a 1,100 km (680 mi) long strike-slip fault trending east–west; no major earthquakes have been associated with the fault in the instrumental period.[2] Many aftershocks followed a week after the mainshock.[10][7][9]
Impact
The most affected areas were Kabul, Bamyan and the Hindu Kush mountain range.[11][7] In the affected areas all communication method and infrastructure was destroyed.[9] In the Kabul area, thousands of houses collapsed,[10] including some government buildings.[12] Villages were destroyed by landslides and rockslides;[9] hundreds of houses were washed away by floods in the Kunar Valley.[4][6] The earthquake caused the landscape to change.[10][7] The large rocks fell into the river valley, altering the course of the river.[9] Due to the damaged infrastructure, traffic was blocked in many affected areas.[13]
In initial reports no number of victims could be given, as information was limited because all communication was destroyed in the affected area. Ten people were killed due to a bridge that collapsed.[14] As of 14 June, four days after the first earthquake, according to Radio Afghanistan at least hundred people were killed, 600 were missing and thousands were injured.[7] The next day the number of deaths were reported between 60 and 70.[12] 17 June, a week after the earthquake Radio Afghanistan reported around 270 deaths.[15][16] The next day 2500 new victims were announced, of whom 300 deaths.[13] In one of the affected areas 140 people were killed and 900 injured due to heavy floods. In another part of the valley there were 160 people killed and 1,000 injured.[4][6] The total number of deaths reported by media was as high as 570 to 900,[3][4] while the total number of injured people were reported to be 2,000–2,500,[6][3] The Afghan embassy reported 300 deaths and 200 injuries.[5]
Response
Relief work was carried out by Hilal Ahmar. Coordination was done by officials of the Ministries of health and public works.[9] Afghanistan received international aid. The Netherlands Red Cross sent, with transport help of KLM, aid to the victims.[12][17] Pakistan offered doctors and medication.[4]
Heuckroth, L. E., Karim, R. A., USAID/Afghanistan., & Kabul Research Foundation. (1970). Earthquake History, Seismicity, and Tectonics of the Regions of Afghanistan. Kabul: Kabul University, Faculty of Engineering, Seismological Center.
