STORY: Historical monuments damaged in earthquakes in W. Afghanistan
DATELINE: Oct. 14, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:57
LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Herat's largest historic mosque Masjid Jami Herat
2. various of Qila Ikhtiarudin (Ikhtiarudin citadel) in Herat province, Afghanistan
3. various of Minar Jam (the Minaret of Jam) in Herat province, Afghanistan 

STORYLINE:

Several historical monuments and cultural heritages have been damaged due to a series of devastating earthquakes and aftershocks that jolted west Afghanistan's Herat and the neighboring Badghis and Farah provinces, Herat's Provincial Director for Information and Culture Ahmadullah Muttaqi said on Thursday.

Identifying the damaged monuments, the official said that Qila Ikhtiarudin (Ikhtiarudin citadel), Herat's largest historic mosque Masjid Jami Herat and Minar Jam (the Minaret of Jam), are among the famous historical sites that have been damaged in the tremors.
   
Two deadly quakes, each with a magnitude of 6.2, rocked west Afghanistan on Oct. 7, followed by several aftershocks.

The epicenter was in Herat province, where thousands of people were killed and numerous buildings were destroyed. 

"The cultural monuments are our cultural heritage, and their protection is our obligation," Ahmadullah Muttaqi told reporters.
   
Herat boasts more than 850 cultural monuments and historical sites, according to the official.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Herat, Afghanistan.
(XHTV)