A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan early on Monday, causing widespread destruction. According to officials, at least 10 people have been killed and approximately 260 injured so far, though the death toll is feared to rise.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake hit at a relatively shallow depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-i-Sharif.
Samim Juinda, a spokesperson for the health department in the northern mountainous province of Samangan near Mazar-i-Sharif, told Reuters that by Monday morning, 150 injured individuals and 7 deceased had been transferred to health centers. He confirmed that these figures were based on hospital reports up until Monday morning.
The Afghan Taliban’s Ministry of Defense stated that parts of the Balkh and Samangan provinces were the most severely affected, resulting in the deaths of several citizens. The Ministry announced that military rescue and emergency relief teams were immediately dispatched to the area and had begun operations to save people, transport the injured, and assist affected families.
Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, confirmed that rescue teams are active and the number of casualties could increase. “Health teams have reached the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on alert,” Zaman said in a statement.
The USGS issued an Orange Alert in its PAGER system, indicating that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.” Previous incidents at this alert level have typically required a regional or national response.
Haji Zaid, a spokesperson for Balkh province, reported that parts of the famous Blue Mosque (Rawza-e-Sharif) in Mazar-i-Sharif were also damaged by the tremor. Videos and images were shared on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) showing attempts to rescue people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. One video even showed rescue workers pulling bodies from the debris.
Afghanistan is particularly susceptible to earthquakes as it is situated on two active fault lines that can cause major damage. In late August of last year, an earthquake and powerful aftershocks in the country’s southeastern region killed over 2,200 people and injured thousands.
