Local authorities report that at least 20 individuals have perished following an earthquake in northern Afghanistan, with the death toll anticipated to increase as rescue operations continue.
Local officials informed the media that hundreds have also sustained injuries.
An earthquake occurred near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the nation’s largest cities with a population of over 500,000, at approximately 01:00 local time on Monday (20:30 GMT on Sunday).
The event registered a magnitude of 6.3 and occurred at a depth of 28 km (17 miles), as reported by the US Geological Survey, and was classified at the orange alert level, signifying a likelihood of “significant casualties.”
According to the health ministry of the Taliban administration, over 530 individuals have sustained injuries.
Provincial officials previously informed the media that casualties were expected to increase as rescue operations persisted.
Haji Zaid, a Taliban spokesperson in Balkh province, stated earlier on X that “numerous individuals are injured” in the Sholgara district, south of Mazar-e-Sharif.
He stated that they had received “reports of minor injuries and superficial damage from all districts of the province.”
“The majority of injuries resulted from individuals falling from elevated structures,” he stated.
Numerous inhabitants of Mazar-e Sharif rushed to the streets when the earthquake struck, fearing the collapse of their homes, according to the AFP news agency.
The earthquake caused a nationwide power outage, including in the capital city of Kabul, due to damage to energy lines from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which are significant power providers to Afghanistan.
The Taliban spokesperson in Balkh shared a video on X that seemingly depicts debris scattered on the ground of the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, which Shia Muslims venerate.
The mosque, constructed in the 15th century, is believed to house the tomb of the first Shia Imam, who was both the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. It is currently a location where pilgrims convene to pray and commemorate religious occasions.
Khalid Zadran, a Taliban spokesperson for the police in Kabul, stated on X that the police are “diligently observing the situation.”
According to its spokeswoman, numerous fatalities were reported in Samangan, a hilly province next to Mazar-e-Sharif.
The earthquake on Monday follows a 6.0 magnitude tremor that impacted Afghanistan’s mountainous eastern area in late August, resulting in over 1,100 fatalities.
The earthquake was particularly lethal due to the rural dwellings in the area being predominantly constructed of mud and timber. Inhabitants were ensnared as their residences fell during the quake.
Afghanistan is very susceptible to earthquakes due to its position atop several fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge.
Inadequate communication networks and infrastructure, such as non-earthquake-resistant buildings, have frequently obstructed rescue operations after disasters like these.
