A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-i-Sharif and Khulm at 1 am local time, killing at least 20 and injuring about 320; rescuers race to free people from collapsed buildings as authorities assess damage.
Earthquake Strikes Near Mazar-i-Sharif and Khulm at Midnight
A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-i-Sharif and the town of Khulm in northern Afghanistan in the early hours of Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring roughly 320, officials said. The quake hit at about 1 am local time at a depth of 23 kilometres, a timing and intensity that raised immediate fears of widespread casualties and damage across populated districts.
Initial reports from provincial health spokespeople and the Taliban-run health ministry put the toll at dozens dead and hundreds wounded as hospitals filled with the injured. Local rescuers and volunteers raced to pull survivors from collapsed houses and buildings; social-media video clips circulating from the area showed rubble-strewn streets and teams carrying the wounded toward ambulances. Authorities warned that early casualty figures were provisional and likely to rise as search teams reach remote villages.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued an alert noting the quake’s shallow depth and potential for a severe humanitarian impact, saying past events of similar magnitude have required regional or national-level responses. Historic context underscored the danger: Afghanistan has suffered deadly quakes in recent years, including a catastrophic event in August that killed thousands and left many more injured and homeless.
