A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan just before midnight local time, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake’s epicenter was located 22 kilometers west-southwest of Khulm, at a depth of 28 kilometers. Tremors were felt as far away as Kabul and across several northern provinces.
Afghan health authorities confirmed that at least 20 people were killed and 260 were injured.
Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, stated that most injuries were minor and treated on site.
Yousaf Hamand, spokesperson for the Disaster Management Authority, added that the majority of wounds were “non-life-threatening.”
Damage to Historic Landmarks
In Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh Province, social media footage showed minor structural damage to the historic Blue Mosque, one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious sites. Some bricks fell from the outer walls, though the building remained standing.
Emergency and Rescue Efforts
Rescue and emergency teams have been deployed to the affected provinces of Balkh and Samangan, where operations are underway to locate survivors and provide medical aid to the injured.
