Powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes northern Afghanistan, killing at least 15
A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s north on Monday, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens.
The earthquake hit Kholm near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in the Hindu Kush at around 12:49 AM local time. It was located at a depth of around 28 km, according to the US Geological Survey.
The American agency issued an orange alert to warn of "significant casualties" and "potentially widespread" disaster.
"Initial reports indicate that over 15 people have died and around 320 have been injured, though rescue efforts are ongoing and numbers are subject to change," a health ministry spokesperson said.
Afghanistan’s disaster management agency said the deaths and injuries were reported in Samangan province, while strong tremors were felt as far as the capital Kabul.
The defense ministry announced on Monday morning that rescue and emergency aid teams had begun search and rescue operations in the most-affected provinces of Balkh and Samangan.
A rockslide briefly blocked a main mountain highway linking Kabul with Mazar-i-Sharif, but the road was later reopened, the Taliban authorities said, adding that some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were taken to a local hospital.
The earthquake destroyed a part of the holy shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid said, referring to the historic Blue Mosque.
The centuries-old mosque, a popular pilgrimage site, is believed to house the tomb of the first Shia Imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib. A video shared by Mr. Zaid showed several bricks had fallen from the walls, but the mosque remained intact.
Mr. Zaid said "numerous places and houses in the city and districts, including the Balkh provincial headquarters and the Sharifi shrine, have been damaged or destroyed." He added that most of the injuries were caused by people falling from tall buildings.
"Public health and Red Crescent teams are treating the injured," he added.
Footage of rescue work being carried out to save people trapped under rubble and images of fallen debris in buildings were shared on social media. One video showed rescuers pulling what appeared to be dead bodies from rubble.
The UN noted on X that Monday’s earthquake came just weeks after a deadly earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The UN said its teams were on the ground assessing needs and delivering urgent aid. "We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support," it added.
Afghanistan is especially vulnerable to earthquakes as it sits on two major active faults that can potentially rupture and cause extensive damage.
A powerful earthquake and a series of aftershocks in August killed at least 2,200 people in the country.
In 2015, a strong earthquake struck the country’s northeast, killing several hundred people there and across the border in Pakistan. Another quake in 2023 killed at least 1,000 people.
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