6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Northern Afghanistan — Blue Mosque Damaged; Dozens Dead, Hundreds Injured

Powerful early-morning quake devastates northern Afghanistan

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan in the early hours of Monday, killing at least 20 people, injuring hundreds and damaging the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake had a shallow depth of about 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) and struck at roughly 1 a.m. local time, jolting families awake across the region.

Rescue efforts underway

A large search-and-rescue operation is ongoing. Video released by the Ministry of Defense shows rescuers pulling a child alive from rubble; the girl was taken to hospital in critical condition, a spokesperson for the 209 Al-Fath Army Corps told CNN. Authorities warn the casualty figures may rise as teams continue to search damaged buildings and remote areas.

Historic shrine damaged

Mazar-i-Sharif’s Blue Mosque, one of Afghanistan’s most important architectural and religious sites, was shown on social media footage with rubble strewn around its base. The mosque is a major pilgrimage destination and is believed by some to contain the tomb of Hazrat Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam.

Infrastructure and power cuts

Power outages were reported across at least nine provinces, including Kabul, after transmission lines from Uzbekistan — a major supplier to Afghanistan’s grid — were severed. Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) also reported cut lines from Tajikistan to Kunduz province and said teams were working urgently to restore both routes.

Casualties, hospitals and humanitarian response

Government officials gave an initial death toll of 20. The World Health Organization reported more than 860 people injured in the northern provinces of Balkh and Samangan, up from earlier counts. At least three hospitals in the hardest-hit zone were overwhelmed by the influx of patients and urgently need additional medical supplies and staff to sustain life-saving services, the WHO said.

“Thankfully, we saw very little widespread devastation… compared to the devastating scenes we saw in Kunar,”

said Richard Trenchard, the UN’s acting Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, after a UN flyover found fewer signs of damage than initially feared. He contrasted the scene with an August quake in eastern Afghanistan that killed thousands.

Aftershocks and regional impact

The USGS reported at least five aftershocks following the main tremor, the strongest measuring magnitude 5.2. The shaking was also felt across borders in parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

International aid and local concerns

India announced relief material was being handed over to affected communities and additional medical supplies were expected to arrive. Humanitarian groups such as Save the Children have deployed teams and warned of the immediate psychological impact on children, especially as winter approaches for families already made vulnerable by previous quakes.

Context

Afghanistan has suffered repeated deadly earthquakes in recent years. Experts say the country’s capacity to respond has been strained by reduced international aid and ongoing political and economic challenges since the change in power in 2021. USGS models have warned that, given local vulnerabilities, the shaking could still result in significant fatalities beyond initial counts.

The Ministry of Defense said a key route through the Tashqurghan pass was briefly blocked by debris but has since been cleared by rescue teams. Authorities and aid agencies continue to assess needs and deliver urgent assistance to affected communities.

This story is developing and has been updated with additional information.