“Our people witnessed an unprecedented earthquake”, says Mullah Janan Sayeq, spokesperson for the ministry of Disaster Management, which ensures rescue operations continue in the affected areas. Officials say more than 1,300 homes were destroyed on Saturday 7 October when a magnitude 6.3 quake -- followed by eight strong aftershocks -- jolted hard-to-reach areas 30 kilometres (19 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Herat. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES