A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake has struck near one of northern Afghanistan’s largest cities, killing at least five people and injuring dozens, the country’s disaster management authority said.
The quake struck early Monday local time at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. The city is the capital of Balkh province and one of the most populous cities in northern Afghanistan.
The city is the capital of Balkh province and one of the most populous cities in northern Afghanistan.
Afghanistan has been roiled in recent years by a series of earthquakes that have killed thousands of people, and USGS modeling estimates that the shaking could kill hundreds of people.
The impoverished country’s ability to respond to natural disasters is further hampered by a lack of international aid, following a successful Taliban takeover following the chaotic withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021.
Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said in a statement: “Five people have been reported killed and 143 injured in Samangan, most of whom have been treated, discharged, and returned home.” “Property damage has also been reported in the affected areas.”
The earthquake caused visible damage to the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s architectural treasures and a major pilgrimage site. Social media footage located by CNN shows debris strewn on the ground outside the mosque.
This site is believed by some to be the final resting place of Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.
The USGS reported that the quake was also felt in three countries that border northern Afghanistan: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
One Mazar-e-Sharif resident told CNN that his family “awoke in fear” after the quake, adding that his children “ran down the stairs screaming” when the quake struck.
“I have never experienced such a strong earthquake in my life,” said Rahima, a former school teacher, adding that some windows were broken and some plaster on the walls was also damaged.
“I’m happy that my house in the city is made of concrete,” she told CNN. “We don’t know if the mud houses on the outskirts of the city could withstand this earthquake.”
Back in August, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake caused widespread damage along eastern Afghanistan’s mountainous provinces, killing at least 2,200 people and injuring thousands more.
The area was hit by at least five aftershocks, the largest of which registered a magnitude 5.2 several hours after the first quake, according to the USGS.
In October 2023, another magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Afghanistan, killing more than 2,000 people.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN’s Mariya Knight and Billy Stockwell contributed to this report.
