Kabul: At least 20 people have been killed and more than 320 injured after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday morning. The quake, which hit near Mazar-e-Sharif at around 1 a.m. local time, caused widespread panic as residents fled their homes fearing collapses.
The US Geological Survey recorded the quake’s depth at 28 kilometres and classified it at an orange alert level, meaning heavy casualties were likely. Afghan officials said the toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue in several affected districts.
Sharafat Zaman Amar, spokesperson for the Taliban government’s health ministry, confirmed that emergency teams have been deployed to assist those injured, many of whom suffered fractures and trauma after falling from buildings during the tremors.
In Balkh province’s Sholgara district, numerous injuries and property damage were reported. Videos posted online showed debris scattered near the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the region’s most sacred sites believed to house the tomb of the first Shia Imam.
Authorities in Samangan, a neighbouring mountainous province, also reported fatalities. Police forces across the region have been placed on high alert as aftershocks continue to be felt.
The latest quake follows a deadly 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan in August, which killed more than 1,000 people. Experts have long warned that Afghanistan remains one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the region due to its position along major fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
