Deadly 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan's Mazar-e Sharif: At Least 10 Dead and 260 Injured

Authorities reported that fatalities had reached at least 10 with approximately 260 injured based on hospital reports collected Monday morning.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early Monday, with experts warning that the death toll is expected to rise.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles) in the vicinity of Mazar-e Sharif, a city with approximately 523,000 residents.

Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for Samangan province's health department, informed Reuters: "A total of 150 people injured and seven martyred have been reported and transferred to health centres as of this morning." Samangan is a mountainous northern province located near Mazar-e Sharif.

These figures represent only the initial hospital reports collected early Monday.

CCTV footage captured the moment the powerful earthquake struck Mazar-e-Sharif, showing severe shaking across the city.

The Afghan Taliban defence ministry stated that Balkh and Samangan provinces experienced the most significant impact, resulting in civilian casualties.

Military rescue and emergency response teams were deployed immediately to the affected areas to rescue trapped individuals, transport the injured, and provide assistance to affected families, according to an official statement.

Health ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman confirmed that rescue teams were actively working in the area and cautioned that casualty numbers might increase.

"Health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby," Zaman stated.

The USGS issued an orange alert through its PAGER system, an automated mechanism that provides information about earthquake impacts. This level indicates that "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread."

Afghanistan's vulnerability to earthquakes stems from its location on two active fault lines capable of causing extensive damage when they rupture.

This disaster follows a recent catastrophic event at the end of August, when more than 2,200 people were killed and thousands injured by a powerful earthquake and strong aftershocks in the southeastern region of the country.

According to the PAGER system, events triggering this alert level typically require regional or national response efforts.

Haji Zaid, spokesperson for Balkh province, confirmed that the earthquake damaged part of the holy Blue Mosque shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Social media platform X featured videos showing rescue operations to save people trapped under debris, along with images of collapsed buildings. One video depicted rescuers recovering what appeared to be fatalities from the rubble.

These social media materials could not be immediately verified by Reuters.