Deadly Earthquake Hits Northern Afghanistan, Leaving 10 Dead and Historic Shrine Damaged

A powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan overnight, just months after a devastating tremor in August. Latest reports confirm that at least 10 people have been killed and approximately 260 individuals injured across the provinces of Balkh and Samangan.

The earthquake, centered near the major northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif at a shallow depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles), triggered mass panic, sending residents into the streets for fear their homes would collapse. Tremors were reportedly felt as far away as the capital, Kabul, some 420 kilometers to the south.

Initial reports indicated nine fatalities, but the death toll has tragically risen, primarily in the affected provinces of Balkh (where Mazar-i-Sharif is the capital) and neighboring Samangan. Health officials confirmed that many of the injured have been treated and discharged, but the total number requiring emergency care across provincial hospitals stands in the hundreds.

Crucially, reports have emerged that the earthquake destroyed part of the historic Blue Mosque (holy shrine) of Mazar-i-Sharif. This structural damage to a cultural landmark highlights the severity of the quake and its impact beyond immediate human casualties. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has issued an Orange Alert in its PAGER system, warning that significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread, demanding a regional or national-level response.

The latest quake is the third major deadly tremor Afghanistan has suffered since 2021, underscoring the country's extreme vulnerability. Afghanistan lies along the collision zone of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates near the Hindu Kush mountain range, making large earthquakes common. The danger is compounded by the fact that many homes, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, are poorly constructed and unable to withstand strong seismic activity.

The new disaster places renewed strain on the Taliban government, which is already struggling with a severe humanitarian crisis fueled by a dramatic reduction in foreign aid drought and climate-related crises of economic restrictions and the banking sector.

The recent, massive influx of Afghan citizens returning, often forcibly, from neighboring Pakistan and Iran.

Poor communication networks and difficult infrastructure in the mountainous terrain continue to hamper immediate disaster response, making it difficult for authorities to quickly assess and reach the most remote, affected villages. This latest natural catastrophe intensifies the warnings from the United Nations and aid agencies regarding rising hunger and poverty among the Afghan population.