More casualties have been reported in western Afghanistan following Wednesday's earthquake. It occurred just days after two powerful tremors rocked the region, leaving local residents desperately in need of food and drinking water.

A hospital in the hardest-hit province of Herat says Wednesday's quake killed 5 people and injured 110 others. Authorities say 500 houses were destroyed.

The Taliban interim government says the Saturday quakes killed more than 2,000 people and destroyed some 2,000 houses. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that as many as 17,000 people could have been affected by the series of quakes.

Many survivors are living in tents provided by international aid organizations. But as the number of victims increases, food and drinking water are reportedly in short supply.