Powerful Earthquake Strikes Northern Afghanistan, Leaving Casualties and Widespread Concern

A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday morning, causing at least seven fatalities and injuring 150 people near Mazar-e Sharif, according to initial reports from vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com. The tremor, with an epicenter 22 kilometers west-southwest of Khulm, has raised immediate concerns for the region's vulnerable population. [Original Article]

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e Sharif, a major northern city with a population of approximately 523,000, as noted by The Indian Express on Monday. The USGS issued an orange alert, indicating a high likelihood of significant casualties and potentially widespread disaster.

Samim Joyanda, a spokesperson for the health department in Samangan province near Mazar-e Sharif, told Reuters that 150 injured individuals and seven fatalities had been transferred to health centers as of Monday morning. These figures, also reported by dawn.com, are based on hospital reports and are subject to change as assessments continue.

This latest seismic event follows closely on the heels of a devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake in August 2025 that killed over 2,200 people in eastern Afghanistan. The Washington Post reported on Monday that the August quake, near the border with Pakistan, highlighted the country's extreme vulnerability to natural disasters.

The recent quakes underscore Afghanistan's precarious geological position, situated at the intersection of several major tectonic plates. Experts have consistently warned that the country's often poorly constructed buildings are ill-equipped to withstand such powerful tremors, leading to disproportionate casualties, The Economic Times stated on Monday.

Reports from The Times of India on Monday also confirmed that part of the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif sustained damage, with bricks falling from its walls, though the structure reportedly remained intact. Residents in Mazar-e Sharif rushed into the streets fearing their homes would collapse, an AFP correspondent observed, according to CNA.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, exacerbated by frequent natural disasters, presents immense challenges for response efforts. Aid agencies and the United Nations have repeatedly warned about rising hunger and the difficulties in delivering assistance in the isolated nation, CTV News reported on Monday.

• Afghanistan's Seismic Vulnerability: Afghanistan is one of the world's most seismically active regions, lying at the convergence of the Eurasian, Indian, and Arabian tectonic plates. This geological setting results in frequent and often powerful earthquakes, particularly in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country, including the Hindu Kush mountain range, as explained by The Economic Times. The constant collision and subduction of these plates generate significant stress, leading to recurrent tremors.
• Impact of the August 2025 Earthquake: The 6.0 magnitude earthquake on August 31, 2025, in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border, was particularly deadly, claiming over 2,200 lives. United Nations University scientists, in a September 2025 report, attributed the high death toll to decades of conflict, instability, and Afghanistan's increasing diplomatic isolation, which has hindered effective disaster preparedness and response. The quake destroyed or damaged over 13,000 buildings, primarily poorly constructed mud-brick homes.
• Humanitarian Response Challenges: The response to the August 2025 earthquake revealed significant fragilities within the humanitarian system, as detailed in an October 2025 review by Humanitarian Outcomes. A global funding contraction and the dismantling of the US foreign aid program earlier in the year left UN appeals severely underfunded, forcing aid agencies to draw down reserves and reprogram existing grants, potentially at the cost of future preparedness. Poor communication networks and infrastructure in mountainous regions also consistently hamper rescue efforts, according to CTV News.
• Exacerbating Existing Crises: Earthquakes in Afghanistan compound an already severe humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread hunger, drought, and economic restrictions. The United Nations and aid agencies have warned that the country is at a "breaking point" in terms of its capacity to respond to multiple shocks, as highlighted by UN News in September 2025. The return of millions of Afghan citizens from neighboring countries further strains resources and communities.
• Historical Precedent of Devastation: Afghanistan has a tragic history of devastating earthquakes. The Indian Express reported on Monday that notable past events include a 6.0 magnitude quake in 2022 that killed around 1,000 people, multiple tremors in 2023 that also left 1,000 dead, and a 7.5 magnitude quake in 2015 that killed 399 across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Two major earthquakes in 1998 killed a combined total of about 7,000 people, underscoring the long-term seismic threat.
• Vulnerability of Infrastructure: The majority of residential buildings in Afghanistan, especially in rural and outlying areas, are constructed from mud bricks or rough stone with minimal engineering. This makes them highly susceptible to collapse during seismic activity, leading to high casualty rates, The Washington Post noted on Monday. The damage to the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e Sharif also illustrates the vulnerability of even significant structures.
• Need for Long-Term Resilience: Experts emphasize the urgent need for sustained investment in safer construction practices and disaster risk reduction strategies in Afghanistan. The United Nations University's September 2025 analysis stressed that without decisive action, similar disasters are expected to recur, particularly given the country's isolation and declining international funding for infrastructure and emergency relief. Improved early warning systems and community preparedness are crucial for building resilience.