At least 20 dead, hundreds injured after magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Afghanistan

Kabul (Web Desk/Agencies): A devastating earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, claiming at least 20 lives and leaving around 320 others injured, local officials reported, warning that the numbers could rise as rescue missions progress.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) below the surface near Mazar-i-Sharif, a major city with an estimated population of more than half a million people.

Spokesperson for the Samangan provincial health department said, “so far, 150 injured and seven dead have been transferred to medical facilities.” He said these figures were compiled from hospital data received by Monday morning.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Balkh and Samangan provinces sustained the most severe damage, resulting in multiple fatalities. The ministry added that military units quickly reached the affected regions to rescue victims, evacuate the wounded, and provide aid to families who lost their homes.

Health Ministry representative Sharfat Zaman stated that emergency response teams were on-site and that the casualty count was expected to increase. “Medical teams have been dispatched to the area, and hospitals nearby are on emergency standby,” he said.

The USGS issued an orange alert through its PAGER system, indicating that significant casualties and widespread destruction were likely. The agency noted that past quakes with similar alert levels have typically required regional or national-scale emergency responses.

Situated along two major fault lines, Afghanistan remains highly susceptible to destructive earthquakes. In late August, tremors in the country’s southeast killed over 2,200 people and injured thousands more.

Officials in Balkh province reported that part of Mazar-i-Sharif’s iconic Blue Mosque, one of Afghanistan’s most sacred sites, was also damaged by the quake.

Videos circulated on X (formerly Twitter) appeared to show rescuers digging through rubble to recover bodies and assist survivors amid collapsed buildings, though Reuters said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.