Powerful Earthquake Kills Over 25 and Injures Nearly 1,000 in Northern Afghanistan

Northern Afghanistan Earthquake Impact

A powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar-e-Sharif and Khulm just before 1 a.m. Casualty figures vary sharply depending on the source. Some West Asian and Western mainstream sources report over 25 dead and nearly 1,000 injured.

Arab News and WTOP describe the toll as over 25 killed and nearly 1,000 injured. NBC News and DW report at least 20 dead and roughly 320 injured.

France 24 cites at least 10 dead and about 260 injured. Several outlets agree the toll is likely to rise as assessments continue.

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Earthquake Impact and Aftershocks

The quake’s epicenter was reported near Khulm and Mazar‑e‑Sharif at a depth of around 28 km. Strong shaking was felt as far as Kabul and across parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Several sources detail damage to the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar‑e‑Sharif.

A brief rockslide blocked a key Kabul–Mazar highway but was later cleared. Multiple aftershocks followed, including magnitude 5.2–5.3 tremors in the same area. These aftershocks have increased fears of further collapses.

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Afghanistan Earthquake Response

Rescue operations are ongoing, with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense teams, local health services, and international agencies evacuating the injured and searching rubble amid poor infrastructure and blocked roads. Reports highlight how limited resources, vulnerable mud-brick housing, and reduced foreign aid complicate the response efforts. NBC News also notes that UN aid deployment is facing restrictions on female staff.

Regional and local sources describe hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged. Hospitals in northern cities have been placed on high alert.

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Recent Deadly Afghan Earthquakes

The disaster comes amid a lethal year of Afghan seismic activity and follows other catastrophic quakes in recent years. Multiple outlets recall a deadly 6.0‑magnitude event in late August that killed over 2,200 people. The October 2023 Herat‑area earthquakes are variously reported as causing thousands of deaths.

Reporting diverges on those historical tolls: some put the Herat series at roughly 2,445 dead, while others cite at least 4,000. One BBC report also attributes over 800 deaths to a 6.3 quake near Mazar‑e‑Sharif, a figure far higher than most outlets’ current reporting for the north.

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Northern Earthquake Impact

On the ground in the north, provincial tallies and circumstances vary. Reports cite severe impact across Balkh, Samangan, and Baghlan, with many injuries from people falling during the shaking. A rockslide briefly severed the Kabul–Mazar route before it was cleared.

Hospitals have been put on high alert as rescue teams continue evacuations. Several outlets describe survivors huddling outdoors in freezing conditions, with rain expected to worsen the situation.

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