At least 20 dead after 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes northern Afghanistan
At least 20 people were killed and more than 320 injured after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan early Monday near Mazar-i-Sharif. The quake caused severe damage across several provinces, including to the historic Blue Mosque, as rescue efforts continue.
- A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-i-Sharif, killing at least 20 and injuring over 320.
- The quake caused extensive damage in Balkh, Samangan, and Baghlan provinces, including to the historic Blue Mosque.
- Authorities have launched search and rescue operations and placed hospitals on high alert.
At least 20 people have been killed and more than 320 others injured after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif at 12:59am local time on Monday (20:29 GMT), according to the Taliban Ministry of Public Health.
Health Ministry spokesman Dr Sharafat Zaman told journalists that the death toll was preliminary and likely to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society said most casualties occurred in Samangan and Balkh provinces, reporting “severe human casualties and heavy financial losses.”
Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid confirmed that part of the Blue Mosque — a historic holy shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif — was damaged by the quake. The provincial capital also reported injuries and significant property damage.
Officials in Baghlan province, northwest of Balkh, reported structural damage though the extent of losses remains unclear.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometres near Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities. The agency’s PAGER system issued an orange alert, indicating “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
The USGS noted that earthquakes of this alert level typically require a regional or national emergency response.
Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said more detailed assessments of damage and casualties would follow as communication lines are restored in affected areas.
Authorities have ordered all hospitals across northern provinces to remain on full emergency footing to receive the injured. Medical teams have been deployed to remote areas where access remains difficult due to damaged roads.
The latest quake adds to a series of deadly natural disasters that have struck Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The government has struggled to respond to such crises amid sharp declines in international aid, which previously formed the backbone of the nation’s humanitarian and recovery infrastructure.
In August this year, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Kunar province killed more than 2,200 people and destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings, underscoring the country’s vulnerability to seismic activity.
