- Deadly 6.0 Quake Hits Afghanistan, At Least 610 Dead - September 1, 2025
- Satellites Measuring Earth’s Changing Ice Sheets From Space - September 1, 2025
- Dust Storms in the Sahara and Their Far-Reaching Effects Across Oceans - August 29, 2025
Afghanistan’s Forgotten Catastrophe – The 2023 Herat Earthquake Series
In October 2023, while the world’s attention was focused elsewhere, a series of devastating earthquakes rocked Afghanistan’s Herat Province, claiming over 1,480 lives. The World Health Organization estimated 1,482 fatalities, 2,100 injuries, 43,400 people affected and 114,000 people requiring humanitarian aid due to the mainshock. The first two earthquakes occurred on 7 October at 11:11 AFT and 11:42 AFT near the city of Herat, followed by many aftershocks. On 11 and 15 October, two other magnitude 6.3 earthquakes struck the same area. Taliban government officials estimate that more than 2,000 people across Herat province have been killed and more than 90% were women and children, according to UN agencies and officials on the ground. Despite the massive death toll, this disaster received minimal international coverage compared to other global crises. The earthquakes struck Afghanistan during an ongoing humanitarian crisis following the Taliban takeover in 2021, and existing aid groups were experiencing a lack of funds prior to the disaster. The international community’s limited response highlighted how political isolation can make natural disasters even more deadly.
Morocco’s Mountain Villages – The Al Haouz Earthquake That Shook the Atlas
At least 2,960 deaths were reported, with most occurring outside Marrakesh. Damage was widespread, and historic landmarks in Marrakesh were destroyed. The 2023 Al Haouz earthquake in Morocco was one of the most devastating natural disasters to hit the country in over a century, yet it quickly faded from international headlines. The magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck at 11:11 pm local time. Its epicenter was located about 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Marrakech, in Morocco’s Al Haouz province. The earthquake’s focus occurred at a depth of only 11.2 miles (18 km) below the surface, according to the United States Geological Survey, which produced stronger shaking at the surface than it would have had it been deeper. In Amizmiz, a town located in the mountains about 20 miles (about 32 km) northeast of the earthquake’s epicenter, the devastation was particularly severe; much of the town was leveled, and emergency workers feared that as many as 2,000 people may have lost their lives under the weight of falling debris and collapsed walls. The vast majority of the people in the region of Al-Haouz are ethnically Imazighen, the indigenous population of North Africa. They are a community that has historically been marginalized by the state, which has privileged a policy of Arabization ever since independence in 1956. The remote mountain villages, built with traditional materials, were particularly vulnerable to seismic activity.
Japan’s Quiet Peninsula – The 2024 Noto Earthquake
On New Year’s Day 2024, Japan’s Noto Peninsula was struck by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that became the country’s deadliest since 2011. On 1 January 2024 at 16:10 (Japan Standard Time), a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. As the epicenter was very shallow, large tremors were observed in many places and a tsunami warning was issued. Since then, more than 1,500 aftershocks have followed the main shock. As of Aug. 21, 2024, 281 direct and indirect deaths had been confirmed, many weeks after the earthquake. Almost 600 people were injured. Only two deaths were connected to the tsunamis, which speaks to Japan’s improved awareness of these hazards. Despite Japan’s advanced warning systems and disaster preparedness, the earthquake caught the world off guard because it struck a relatively sparsely populated rural area. Several deaths were caused by hypothermia because of the harsh winter conditions in the Noto region. In May, a five-member panel found that at least 30 deaths were the result of conditions indirectly related to the earthquake. The fact that this major earthquake in a developed nation received limited global attention shows how location and timing can affect international disaster coverage.
Turkey’s Eastern Tremor – The Overlooked Malatya Earthquake
While the February 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes dominated headlines, a significant aftershock in October 2024 barely registered in international news. A Mww 6.0 earthquake struck Kale District, Malatya Province on 16 October 2024, causing 254 injuries across seven provinces, with Elazığ Province alone recording 116 injuries. Turkey was placed on a “level four” alert to request international aid. This earthquake struck in an area still recovering from the devastating February disasters, adding to the trauma of communities already struggling to rebuild. The timing, coming months after the initial catastrophe, meant it received minimal media attention despite affecting thousands of people. More than 53,000 Turkish search and rescue personnel were dispatched to the affected provinces. Seventy countries also assisted in these operations. In the first two days, more than 8,000 people were rescued and 380,000 people were relocated to shelters or hotels. The international community’s disaster fatigue had set in by October, leaving this significant seismic event largely ignored despite requiring substantial emergency response efforts.
Pakistan’s Border Tremor – The 2023 Hindu Kush Earthquake
In March 2023, a powerful earthquake struck the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, killing at least nine people and injuring hundreds more, yet it received minimal international coverage. A magnitude-6.5 earthquake rattled much of Pakistan and Afghanistan on Tuesday, sending panicked residents fleeing from homes and offices and frightening people even in remote villages. At least nine people died. More than 100 people were brought to hospitals in the Swat valley region of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in a state of shock, Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Pakistan’s emergency services told The Associated Press. Faizi and other officials said nine people were killed when roofs collapsed in various parts of northwestern Pakistan. Dozens of others were injured in the quake, which was centered in Afghanistan and also felt in bordering Tajikistan. The earthquake triggered landslides in some of the mountainous areas, disrupting traffic. The disaster struck a region already plagued by political instability and poverty, making recovery efforts particularly challenging. The region is prone to violent seismic upheavals. A magnitude-7.6 quake in 2005 killed thousands of people in Pakistan and Kashmir. The fact that this earthquake affected areas spanning multiple countries but still received limited attention highlights how border regions often fall through the cracks of international disaster response.
Indonesia’s Silent Shaking – The Banda Sea Earthquake Series
Throughout 2023 and 2024, a series of significant earthquakes struck the remote Banda Sea region of Indonesia, far from populated centers but still posing serious threats to local communities. These underwater earthquakes, some reaching magnitudes above 6.0, generated tsunamis and caused damage to remote islands that rarely make international headlines. The isolated nature of the Banda Sea means that when disasters strike, they often go unnoticed by the global media despite affecting thousands of people living on scattered islands. Local fishing communities and small settlements bore the brunt of these seismic events, with limited access to emergency services and international aid. The region’s position in the Ring of Fire makes it one of the most seismically active areas on Earth, yet its remote location ensures that most earthquakes here remain invisible to the outside world. Recovery efforts in these areas depend heavily on local resources and government support, often taking months or years longer than in more accessible regions.
Chile’s Northern Coast – The Tarapaca Province Earthquakes
Chile’s northern Tarapaca Province experienced several significant earthquakes in 2023 and 2024, including some that caused considerable damage to mining operations and rural communities. These earthquakes, while substantial in magnitude, received little attention because they struck sparsely populated desert regions far from major cities. The area’s economy relies heavily on copper mining, and several facilities suffered damage that disrupted operations for weeks. Local indigenous communities, already marginalized and living in poverty, faced additional hardships when their traditional adobe homes collapsed or were severely damaged. The remote location of these settlements meant that emergency response was delayed, and some communities had to rely on self-rescue efforts for days before help arrived. Chile’s position along the Pacific Ring of Fire means earthquakes are common, but those affecting remote northern regions rarely make international news despite their significant local impact. The government’s focus on protecting urban centers often leaves rural communities feeling forgotten when disasters strike.
Iran’s Border Regions – The Kermanshah Province Aftershocks
The Kermanshah Province in Iran continued to experience significant aftershocks throughout 2023 and 2024, following major earthquakes in previous years. These ongoing seismic events, while individually smaller than the original disasters, cumulatively caused substantial damage to communities still rebuilding from earlier catastrophes. Many buildings that survived initial earthquakes but were structurally compromised finally collapsed during these aftershocks, displacing families who thought they had weathered the worst. The region’s position along the Zagros Mountains fault system makes it particularly vulnerable to continued seismic activity, yet international attention had long since moved away from the area. Local hospitals and emergency services, already strained from previous disasters, struggled to cope with the ongoing challenges posed by repeated earthquakes. International sanctions on Iran complicated relief efforts, as foreign aid organizations faced restrictions on providing assistance even for natural disasters. The combination of political isolation and disaster fatigue meant these communities faced their ongoing seismic challenges largely alone.
Philippines’ Southern Islands – The Mindanao Earthquake Swarm
The southern Philippine island of Mindanao experienced a series of damaging earthquakes in 2023 and 2024 that collectively affected hundreds of thousands of people but received minimal international coverage. These earthquakes struck regions already dealing with poverty, armed conflict, and limited infrastructure, making recovery particularly challenging. The remote location of many affected communities meant that damage assessments took weeks to complete, and some areas remained cut off from aid for extended periods. Traditional Filipino homes, built primarily of wood and bamboo, proved vulnerable to the repeated shaking, with entire villages needing to be rebuilt. The Philippine government’s resources were stretched thin dealing with multiple natural disasters simultaneously, including typhoons and volcanic eruptions in other parts of the country. International media attention focused on more dramatic disasters elsewhere, leaving these earthquake-affected communities largely invisible to the global public. Local NGOs and religious organizations played crucial roles in relief efforts, often working with limited resources and little outside support.
Myanmar’s Hidden Disasters – The Sagaing Region Earthquakes
Myanmar’s Sagaing Region experienced several significant earthquakes during 2023 and 2024, but the country’s political turmoil and media restrictions ensured these disasters remained largely hidden from international view. The ongoing civil unrest following the military coup made disaster response extremely complicated, with humanitarian organizations unable to access affected areas safely. Many communities in the earthquake zones were already displaced by conflict, making them doubly vulnerable when natural disasters struck. Traditional Myanmar architecture, including centuries-old pagodas and monasteries, suffered extensive damage that represented not just physical destruction but cultural loss. The military government’s control over information flow meant that accurate casualty figures and damage assessments were rarely available to international observers. Relief efforts were hampered by the security situation, with aid workers unable to reach remote villages for weeks after earthquakes occurred. The combination of natural disaster and political crisis created a perfect storm of suffering that the outside world barely noticed. International sanctions and diplomatic isolation further complicated any potential relief efforts from foreign governments or organizations.
What would you have guessed about how political circumstances can make natural disasters virtually invisible to the world?
