Kabul, November 3, 2025: A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif early Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 320, officials said, warning that the death toll was likely to rise.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometres (17.4 miles) near Mazar-i-Sharif, a major city in Balkh province with a population of around 523,000.
Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the Samangan provincial health department, told Reuters that “a total of 150 people injured and seven martyred have been reported and transferred to health centres as of this morning,” adding that the figures were based on hospital reports and likely to increase.
The Taliban defence ministry said that Balkh and Samangan provinces were the worst affected, with multiple fatalities and extensive damage reported. “Military rescue and emergency assistance teams reached the area immediately and began operations to rescue people, transport the injured, and assist affected families,” the ministry said in a statement.
Health ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman confirmed that emergency teams were active in the affected zones. “Health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby,” he said, adding that the number of casualties may rise as rescue operations continue.
The USGS issued an orange alert through its PAGER impact system, which estimates potential casualties and economic losses following seismic events. The alert indicated that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
Afghanistan lies on several active fault lines, making it highly vulnerable to earthquakes. In August this year, more than 2,200 people were killed and thousands injured after a series of powerful tremors struck the country’s southeastern region.
Officials in Balkh confirmed that part of the holy shrine of Mazar-i-Sharif, also known as the Blue Mosque, was damaged in the latest quake. “The earthquake destroyed part of the shrine,” said Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid.
Videos circulating on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showed rescuers pulling survivors and bodies from the rubble, as well as images of collapsed buildings and widespread destruction in the quake-hit areas.
