MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, 3 November (H.S.): A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif early on Monday, sparking fears of significant casualties and widespread damage in a region already vulnerable to natural disasters.
The quake hit at 12:59 AM local time at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles), with its epicenter in the Kholm district near Mazar-e-Sharif, a major urban center with a population of over 500,000. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued an orange alert, indicating that significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.
Initial reports from local officials suggest a rising death toll and numerous injuries. A Taliban spokesperson for Balkh province, where Mazar-e-Sharif is the capital, stated that at least four people were killed and more than 60 injured in the Sholgara district.
Many residents of Mazar-e-Sharif fled their homes in panic as the tremors shook the city, fearing building collapses.Videos and images circulating on social media showed rescue efforts underway and damage to buildings, including debris at the site of the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, a significant local landmark. The country's national disaster management agency said it was collecting reports on casualties and damage.
In Samangan Province, officials reported eight fatalities and 200 injuries A landslide triggered by the quake buried a section of a major highway, killing four people.This earthquake is the latest in a series of deadly seismic events to hit Afghanistan. It comes just two months after a 6.0 magnitude quake in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people in August, and follows a devastating 6.3 magnitude quake in the western Herat region in October 2023 that killed over 1,500 people.
Afghanistan is highly susceptible to earthquakes, particularly along the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates converge. The impact of these tremors is often exacerbated by the fact that many homes are poorly constructed, and rescue efforts are hampered by poor infrastructure in the mountainous, war-torn nationnatio.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
