6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Afghanistan, Causing Casualties and Damage

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif early Monday, resulting in at least 20 deaths and over 500 injuries, according to Afghan Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman Amar. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers, with its epicenter near Mazar-e-Sharif, a city with a population exceeding 500,000.

The earthquake caused significant structural damage, including to the historic 15th-century Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, where parts of the structure, particularly from one of its minarets, broke off and lay scattered across the mosque’s grounds. Rescue operations are underway, with local and military teams working to assist those affected. The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority and Health Ministry have mobilized emergency services, placing hospitals on alert.

Afghanistan's location on active seismic fault lines makes it highly susceptible to earthquakes. This event follows a series of quakes in August that claimed over 2,200 lives. Humanitarian agencies have emphasized the growing crisis as winter approaches, warning of worsening conditions for those living in temporary shelters.