6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Afghanistan, Leaving Dozens Dead and Injured

At least 20 people were killed and around 150 others injured after a powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan early Monday, according to local authorities.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake’s epicenter was located at a depth of 28 kilometers near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which has an estimated population of about 523,000.

Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the Health Department in the neighboring Samangan province, stated that “the preliminary toll indicates 20 dead and more than 150 injured,” adding that rescue teams are working to transport the wounded to hospitals.

The USGS issued an “orange” alert under its PAGER (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response) system, warning of the possibility of significant human and material losses that may require a national or regional response.

Haji Zaid, spokesperson for the local authorities in Balkh province, said that “the earthquake caused partial damage to the Blue Mosque shrine in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.”

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority announced that its field teams had begun assessing the extent of the damage, noting that detailed reports would be released later.

Afghanistan experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location at the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In 2023, a powerful earthquake killed more than a thousand people in the country’s west, while the 2015 quake left hundreds dead in northern Afghanistan and neighboring northern Pakistan.