At Least 10 Dead, Hundreds Injured After Powerful 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan

At least 10 people were killed and around 260 others injured after a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif early Monday, officials said. Authorities warned that the death toll is likely to rise.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-i-Sharif, a city of roughly 523,000 people.

Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the health department in the northern province of Samangan, told Reuters, “As of this morning, a total of 150 people have been reported injured and seven killed. They have been admitted to local health centers.” He added that the figures were based on initial reports received from hospitals as of Monday morning.

The Taliban’s Defense Ministry said that parts of Balkh and Samangan provinces were among the hardest hit, with multiple civilian casualties reported.

In a statement, the ministry said that military rescue and emergency response teams had been dispatched to the affected areas to carry out evacuation, medical assistance, and relief operations.

Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said that rescue efforts were ongoing and that the number of casualties could rise. “Medical teams have reached the affected areas, and all nearby hospitals have been placed on standby,” he said in a statement.

The USGS issued an orange alert through its PAGER system, an automated platform that assesses the impact of earthquakes, warning of a “significant likelihood of casualties and potentially widespread disaster.”

Afghanistan’s High Seismic Risk

Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, sitting atop two active fault lines that frequently trigger deadly quakes and major destruction.

In late August, more than 2,200 people were killed and thousands injured when a series of tremors struck the war-torn country’s southeastern region.

The USGS noted that previous earthquakes with similar alert levels have required regional or national emergency responses.

Haji Zaid, spokesperson for Balkh province, said that part of Mazar-i-Sharif’s revered Blue Mosque had been damaged in the quake.

Videos and images shared on social media platform X showed rescuers pulling victims from rubble and collapsed buildings. In one clip, bodies were seen being retrieved from debris.

Reuters said it could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage or photographs.