At least eight people have been confirmed dead and around 180 injured after a powerful earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday morning, according to local authorities. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue in the affected areas.
The 6.3-magnitude quake hit near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif—home to more than 500,000 residents—at approximately 1:00 AM local time. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers and issued an orange alert level, indicating the likelihood of significant casualties.
A spokesman for the health department in a neighboring province told the BBC that dozens of people were being treated for injuries, many of which were sustained by falling from buildings during the tremors.
In Balkh province, where Mazar-e-Sharif is the capital, Taliban spokesman Haji Zaid reportedly posted on social media platform X that "many people are injured" in Sholgara district, south of the city. He added that reports from across the province described minor injuries and superficial structural damage.
According to the BBC, Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police, said on X that security forces are "closely monitoring the situation."
AFP reported that terrified residents rushed into the streets as buildings swayed, fearing potential collapses. Video footage shared online by the Taliban showed debris scattered outside the historic Blue Mosque, a revered religious site in Mazar-e-Sharif believed to house the tomb of the first Shia Imam.
In neighboring Samangan province, fatalities were also reported, though details remain limited.
This latest quake follows a deadly 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan’s eastern mountains in late August, which killed more than 1,000 people. Many victims were trapped in mud and timber homes that collapsed during the quake.
Afghanistan lies along several seismic fault lines due to the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the region.
Meanwhile, residents of Dushanbe were also shaken awake at 1:29 AM local time as tremors from a powerful earthquake in neighboring Afghanistan rippled across the region.
The quake startled many with its intensity and duration, according to comments shared on social media.
The seismic activity was not limited to Tajikistan. Reports indicate that the tremors were also felt in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
As of now, there have been no official reports of damage or casualties in any of the affected countries.
