Local authorities believe more than 100 people were killed.
The United Nations gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead, but later said the figure was still being verified.
The United States Geological Survey reported the 6.3 magnitude tremblors. It said the epicenter was 40 kilometres northwest of Herat city.A map on the USGS website indicates seven earthquakes in the area. At least five powerful earthquakes struck the city around noon, Herat city resident Abdul Shakor Samadi said.
The World Health Organisation in Afghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals."As deaths & casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded & assessing additional needs," the UN agency said on X, formerly known as Twitter.Telephone connections went down in Herat, making it hard to get details from affected areas.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the dead and injured in Herat and Badghis.
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