A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring around 320, according to a statement from the Taliban-run health ministry cited by Reuters.
The tremors were strongest in Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country’s largest cities.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue in Balkh and neighboring Samangan provinces, the areas worst affected by the quake.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the magnitude at 6.3 and issued an “orange alert” through its PAGER system, indicating the likelihood of significant casualties and widespread damage. The quake struck at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e-Sharif, a city with a population of about 523,000.
Among the damaged structures was the 15th-century Blue Mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif — also known as the Mausoleum of Imam Ali — one of Afghanistan’s most iconic landmarks. AFP reported that fragments of its intricate minarets and tiles were found scattered across the mosque grounds.
Videos circulating on social media showed the moment the quake hit, captured by CCTV cameras, as well as rescue workers pulling bodies and survivors from the debris. The country’s disaster management agency said further details on casualties and destruction will be released later.
Monday’s quake comes just months after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in August killed at least 2,200 people and injured thousands more.
Situated along several fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge, Afghanistan is highly prone to earthquakes — many of them shallow, leading to devastating surface-level destruction.
