THE death toll from several earthquakes in western Afghanistan has risen to 2,053, spokesman for the national disaster authority Mullah Janan Shaeq said yesterday.

Addressing a press conference in Herat, the official noted that 9,240 others were injured and 1,340 houses were destroyed in the quakes that shook Herat and the neighboring Badghis and Farah provinces Saturday.

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.2 jolted Afghanistan on Saturday, followed by several aftershocks.

The first tremor occurred at around 11:10 a.m., forcing local residents to leave their houses, locals said.

International organizations and local authorities have sent rescue teams to the affected areas.

(Xinhua)