Strong Earthquake in Northern Afghanistan Kills 20, Hundreds Injured

Kabul: A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 300, officials said. The US Geological Survey reported that the quake’s epicentre was 22 kilometres west-southwest of Khulm town and occurred at 12:59 am at a depth of 28 kilometres.

Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, confirmed 20 deaths and 320 injuries. Most of the injured sustained minor wounds and were discharged after initial treatment, according to Yousaf Hammad, a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s disaster management agency.

The earthquake caused significant damage in the provinces of Balkh and Samangan, prompting the Ministry of Defence in Kabul to dispatch rescue and emergency aid teams. Officials are working to transport the injured and provide support to affected families.

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the tremor affected Balkh, Samangan, and Baghlan provinces, causing both casualties and property damage. He expressed sorrow over the losses and said government agencies are actively providing assistance to those affected.

The quake was also felt in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province. Social media footage showed damage to the historic Blue Mosque, with several bricks fallen from its walls, though the structure remained intact. The centuries-old mosque is a major religious and cultural landmark in northern Afghanistan.

Residents in Kabul and other provinces reported feeling the tremors. A rockslide briefly blocked the main mountain highway connecting Kabul with Mazar-e-Sharif, but authorities later reopened the road. Some injured people trapped along the highway were transported to hospitals.

The United Nations in Afghanistan said Monday’s earthquake comes just weeks after a deadly tremor struck eastern Afghanistan. UN teams are assessing needs on the ground and delivering urgent aid, stating that they stand with affected communities and will provide necessary support.

Afghanistan has faced repeated earthquakes in recent years, and responding to such disasters remains challenging, especially in remote areas. Many buildings are low-rise structures of concrete and brick, while homes in rural areas are often made of mud bricks and wood, constructed poorly and vulnerable to tremors.

The region has a recent history of devastating earthquakes. On August 31, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border killed over 2,200 people. This was followed by a magnitude 6.3 quake on October 7, 2023, with strong aftershocks that left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government.