Deadly 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Afghanistan: 20 Dead, Over 320 Injured

The earthquake was felt throughout Kabul and numerous other provinces across Afghanistan.

A devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday morning, resulting in at least 20 fatalities, including women and children, while injuring over 320 people. According to Afghanistan's health ministry spokesperson, Sharafat Zaman, the Balkh and Samangan provinces experienced the most severe damage and recorded the highest number of casualties from the midnight tremor.

Distressing footage released by Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence depicted emergency workers and local residents extracting victims' bodies from collapsed structures as rescue and relief operations continued throughout the affected regions.

A video emerged showing damage to the historic shrine of Mazar-e-Sharif, commonly known as the Blue Mosque—a 15th-century architectural treasure renowned for its vibrant tile work. The footage revealed several bricks had fallen from the walls, though the main structure remained intact. This centuries-old monument is one of Afghanistan's most sacred religious sites and serves as a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivities.

The Defence Ministry reported that a rockslide temporarily blocked a principal mountain highway connecting Kabul with Mazar-e-Sharif, but the road was subsequently cleared and reopened. They confirmed that injured individuals trapped along the highway were transported to medical facilities.

The earthquake's impact extended beyond Afghanistan, with tremors felt in neighboring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter was located 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of the town of Khulm, occurring at 12:59 a.m. at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles).

Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan's disaster management agency, stated that most of the injured sustained minor wounds and were discharged after receiving initial treatment.

This catastrophe adds to Afghanistan's extensive history of deadly earthquakes, which claim approximately 560 lives annually and cause estimated damages of $80 million. The country's location amidst rugged mountain ranges makes it susceptible to various natural disasters, with earthquakes causing the highest number of fatalities.

Research indicates that at least 355 earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 5.0 have struck Afghanistan since 1990.