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MAZAR-I-SHARIF (AFGHANISTAN): A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near one of Afghanistan’s largest cities, Mazar-i-Sharif, in the early hours of Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring around 320 others, officials confirmed. The quake hit at 1 am local time, jolting residents awake as tremors were felt across northern Afghanistan. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the epicentre was located between Mazar-i-Sharif and Khulm, at a depth of 23 kilometres. USGS warns of widespread damage The United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that the earthquake could result in significant casualties and widespread destruction.“Significant casualties are likely, and the disaster is potentially widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response,” the USGS said in a statement cited by CNN. Given the timing of the tremor—when most people were asleep—the potential for high casualties was considerable. Death toll likely to rise Initial figures from Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the health department in Samangan province, suggested seven deaths and 150 injuries. However, the Taliban health ministry later revised the numbers, confirming at least 20 deaths and 320 injuries, AFP reported. Authorities warned that the casualty count may rise as rescue operations continue and more data comes in from remote areas. Afghanistan’s national disaster management agency stated that assessments of casualties and damage were still being conducted. Rescuers battle rubble and debris Videos circulating on social media showed rescue teams digging through rubble, pulling out survivors and bodies from collapsed homes.Images revealed widespread destruction, with buildings reduced to debris and dust clouds filling the air. Some footage showed rescuers carrying victims on makeshift stretchers. However, the authenticity of the videos and images could not be independently verified. Iconic Blue Mosque suffers damage Among the damaged structures was Mazar-i-Sharif’s iconic Blue Mosque, a 15th-century landmark famous for its turquoise tiles and intricate architecture.According to AFP, parts of one of its minarets collapsed, scattering debris across the mosque’s courtyard. The site is one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious and historical monuments, drawing pilgrims and tourists from across the country. Afghanistan’s recent history of deadly quakes Afghanistan sits on several active fault lines and frequently experiences powerful earthquakes. In August 2025, a 6.0-magnitude quake in the eastern mountains killed over 2,200 people and injured nearly 2,800 others.Earlier, in October 2023, a series of four 6.3-magnitude earthquakes devastated Herat province, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring 2,400. Experts have long warned that poor infrastructure and unplanned urban expansion make Afghanistan particularly vulnerable to high-casualty earthquakes. Relief efforts underway Rescue and relief operations are ongoing with local authorities, the Taliban government, and international agencies coordinating emergency response efforts. Hospitals in Mazar-i-Sharif and surrounding provinces have been placed on high alert to treat the influx of injured victims. The situation remains fluid, and authorities fear aftershocks could worsen the damage in already fragile structures.
