A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, causing widespread destruction near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif.
Officials confirmed that at least 20 people have been killed and more than 300 others injured, with rescue efforts ongoing across affected provinces.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles) near Mazar-e-Sharif — a city with a population exceeding 520,000. Tremors were felt across the Balkh and Samangan provinces, triggering panic as residents rushed into the streets in the middle of the night.
Rescue teams mobilised as toll expected to rise
Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the Samangan provincial health department, told Reuters that “150 people injured and seven martyred have been reported and transferred to health centers as of this morning.”
The Afghan Taliban’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that Balkh and Samangan were the hardest-hit areas, adding that military rescue and emergency teams were immediately dispatched to evacuate people, assist victims, and deliver relief supplies.
Health Ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman said all nearby hospitals have been put on high alert, adding that casualty figures are expected to increase as search operations continue.
Part of Mazar-i-Sharif’s blue mosque damaged
Officials in Balkh province reported that parts of the historic Blue Mosque (Shrine of Ali) in Mazar-i-Sharif were damaged during the quake. Videos circulating on social media showed collapsed buildings, fallen debris, and rescue workers pulling victims from the rubble.
The USGS issued an orange alert under its PAGER impact system, indicating that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.” Similar past alerts have required national or regional response coordination.
Afghanistan’s ongoing vulnerability to quakes
Afghanistan sits atop two major active fault lines, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions. The country has faced several deadly quakes in recent years, compounding the humanitarian crisis caused by war and economic isolation.
Just two months ago, on August 31, a 6.0-magnitude quake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 2,200 people. In 2023, Herat province was devastated by a series of quakes near the Iranian border, while hundreds died in Nangarhar province in 2022.
Poor construction quality, mountainous terrain, and limited emergency infrastructure continue to make disaster response efforts difficult across the country.
The earthquake comes at a time when Afghanistan is already reeling from severe poverty, prolonged drought, and the return of millions of refugees from Pakistan and Iran.
With foreign aid drastically reduced since the Taliban takeover in 2021, international agencies have warned that the government’s capacity to manage large-scale natural disasters remains severely limited.
