Earthquake kills 10, injures 260 in northern Afghanistan

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-e Sharif early Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring around 260, with authorities warning that the toll could rise.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometres near the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, which has a population of more than half a million.

Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the health department in Samangan province, told Reuters that initial hospital reports showed seven dead and 150 injured, but officials said numbers had increased as rescue operations continued.

The Taliban Defence Ministry said Balkh and Samangan provinces were among the worst affected, with fatalities reported in several areas. Military rescue and emergency assistance teams were immediately deployed to transport the injured and provide aid to affected families.

Health Ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman said medical teams had reached the area and all nearby hospitals were placed on standby, warning that the casualty count could rise further.

The USGS issued an orange alert through its PAGER system, warning that significant casualties were likely and the disaster could be widespread. Past earthquakes with a similar alert level have typically required a regional or national response.

Officials confirmed that part of the historic Blue Mosque, the holy shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif, was damaged by the tremor. Videos circulating on social media showed rescue teams searching through debris and pulling bodies from collapsed buildings, though Reuters said it could not verify the footage.

Afghanistan, situated on two major active fault lines, remains highly vulnerable to devastating earthquakes. More than 2,200 people were killed and thousands were injured after a quake and strong aftershocks struck the country’s southeast in August. Major past disasters include a 2015 quake that killed hundreds across Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, a 2023 earthquake that claimed at least 1,000 lives, and the 2025 Kunar quake that left about 3,000 dead and levelled thousands of homes in the east.

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