A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, with its epicenter located near the town of Khulm, around 22 kilometers southwest of Mazar-e-Sharif, at a depth of roughly 28 kilometers. According to early reports, at least seven people were killed and around 150 injured, while tremors were felt across several northern provinces and as far as Kabul. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued an orange alert, warning that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.” Local authorities confirmed that several homes and buildings collapsed, including partial damage to the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country’s most iconic landmarks. Rescue workers and emergency responders have been deployed to affected districts, but the remote and mountainous terrain is hindering access. Humanitarian agencies report that medical facilities in Balkh province are already overwhelmed with casualties, and the number of victims is expected to rise as assessments continue in rural areas. Aftershocks have been felt since the main tremor, increasing fears of further collapses in weakened structures.
Afghanistan sits at the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, one of the most seismically active regions in the world. The country’s fragile infrastructure and dense rural settlements make even moderate earthquakes devastating. This latest event follows a string of deadly quakes in recent years, including one in August 2025 that killed more than 2,200 people in the east. Experts warn that without improved earthquake-resilient construction and emergency preparedness, the humanitarian toll from such disasters will remain high.
Authorities, supported by the UN and Red Crescent teams, are prioritizing the search for survivors, medical aid distribution, and temporary shelters for those displaced. With temperatures dropping across northern Afghanistan, aid groups fear that exposure and lack of shelter could worsen the crisis in the coming days.
