Kabul, Nov 4: A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 640, officials said.The epicentre was 22 km west-southwest of Khulm, Balkh province, at a depth of 28 km, affecting Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, and Kunduz provinces. Casualty numbers are expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Many homes, particularly mud-brick houses in rural areas, collapsed, leaving residents digging through rubble to salvage belongings. In Badakhshan, around 800 houses were partially or fully destroyed in Shahr-e-Bozorg district.
The historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif sustained minor damage, with fallen bricks but no structural collapse. The quake was also felt in Kabul and nearby provinces, and a rockslide briefly blocked a main highway linking Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif, though it was later reopened.
Rescue and emergency teams, including government agencies and UN personnel, are on the ground assisting the injured and assessing urgent needs. Most injuries were minor, with patients treated and discharged. The Taliban government and international organizations are coordinating aid efforts amid challenging conditions in remote areas.
Local residents reported severe financial losses, destruction of homes, and disruption of daily life. The disaster comes amid Afghanistanâs ongoing struggle with inadequate infrastructure and poverty, complicating disaster response.
Pakistanâs President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences and solidarity with Afghan victims, as both countries continue peace talks despite recent border tensions.
This earthquake follows a series of recent devastating quakes in Afghanistan, including a 6.0-magnitude tremor in eastern Afghanistan on August 31, 2025, which killed more than 2,200 people, and a 6.3-magnitude quake on October 7, 2023, that left at least 4,000 dead. The region remains highly vulnerable to seismic activity, highlighting the urgent need for disaster preparedness and aid support.
India has provided food aid to families affected by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan, hitting Balkh, Samangan, and Baghlan provinces.
The disaster has killed at least 20 people and injured over 400, with authorities warning that casualties could rise as rescue operations continue, particularly in remote mountainous regions where roads are blocked and communication is limited.