A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring around 260, with authorities warning the death toll could rise. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake occurred at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e Sharif, a city home to roughly 523,000 residents.
Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the health department in Samangan province, said 150 people were injured and seven confirmed dead as of Monday morning, with victims transferred to local health centers. The Afghan Taliban defense ministry said Balkh and Samangan provinces were the hardest hit, causing fatalities among residents. Rescue and emergency teams were deployed immediately to assist affected families, transport the injured, and conduct search operations. Health ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman added that hospital staff and health teams were on standby, and numbers of dead and injured could increase.
The USGS issued an orange alert in its PAGER system, indicating that significant casualties are likely and the disaster could be widespread. Afghanistan is highly earthquake-prone due to its location on two active fault lines capable of causing major destruction.
Recent quakes in the region have already caused significant casualties. The latest earthquake also damaged part of the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh province. Videos shared on social media show rescue teams pulling victims from rubble and clearing fallen debris, though the footage has not been independently verified.
Emergency response continues as authorities assess the full scale of the disaster and provide aid to those affected.
