QADIS - Survivors of twin earthquakes in Afghanistan that killed at least 22 people said Tuesday they had to spend the night without shelter in plummeting temperatures, after hundreds of buildings were damaged in the tremor.

Rescuers meanwhile searched for more survivors of Monday afternoon’s quakes that jolted Qadis district in the western Badghis province, a rural area not easily accessible by road.

The US Geological Survey said two earthquakes hours apart of magnitude 4.9 and 5.3 rocked the district.

“Yesterday’s earthquake was a very horrifying incident. We had never seen such a thing,” Ahmad Shah, whose house in Qadis was damaged, told AFP.

“Because of the cracked walls and roofs of our houses we stayed out all night in this cold weather. Nobody came to help and the people had to dig out those who were buried.”

Abdul Jabar, another survivor from Qadis, said many residents preferred to stay in the open fearing more tremors. “We were scared and did not want to stay at home,” he said, adding that some Afghan and international rescue teams arrived Tuesday.

“So far there has not been much support from anyone. They are just assessing the situation.”

Qadis governor Saleh Purdel said the survivors might have to stay in tents for another week. Many fear that further rain in the area could make houses even more vulnerable. 

Early on Tuesday Badghis provincial spokesman Baz Mohammad Sarwary said in a video message that the quake had caused “massive” damage to houses, with up to 1,000 buildings damaged.