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2d ago

6.3-Magnitude Quake Hits Northern Afghanistan, Killing at Least 20

Officials report a preliminary toll of hundreds injured, with figures subject to revision.

A Afghan Red Crescent rescue worker seen sifting through the destruction and rubble after a 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan's Balkh province on Monday
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Afghan men assist an injured man into an ambulance in the aftermath of an earthquake, that struck overnight at Mazar-i-Sharif on November 3, 2025. A 6.3-magnitude strong earthquake killed at least nine people in northern Afghanistan, authorities said on November 3, just months after another deadly tremor left the country reeling. (Photo by Atif Aryan / AFP) (Photo by ATIF ARYAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • The USGS said the quake struck at 12:59 a.m. local time near Khulm/Mazar‑i‑Sharif at a depth of about 28 kilometers and issued an orange PAGER impact alert.
  • Afghanistan’s Health Ministry cited at least 20 dead and more than 500 injured, while provincial tallies varied as assessments continued.
  • Footage and officials reported damage to Mazar‑i‑Sharif’s Blue Mosque, with pieces from a minaret and decorative elements falling.
  • Afghan defense authorities and UN teams reached affected areas in Balkh and Samangan for rescue and needs assessments, though some communities remain hard to access.
  • A rockslide briefly blocked the Kabul–Mazar highway and the quake follows a run of deadly tremors in 2023–2025 that have strained emergency response capacity.