At least seven individuals have tragically lost their lives following a powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck near Mazar-e Sharif in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province. The earthquake occurred around 12:59 AM local time on Monday (8:29 PM UK time), as reported by local officials.
Samim Joyanda, the spokesperson for the health department in the nearby Samangan province, informed Reuters that approximately 150 people have sustained injuries due to the tremor. In response to the quake, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has issued an orange alert, indicating that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster may be widespread.” Historically, such alerts have necessitated regional or national responses to address the aftermath.
Haji Zaid, a spokesperson for Balkh province, revealed that the earthquake caused considerable damage, including the destruction of part of the iconic Blue Mosque, a revered holy shrine in the city. Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan’s fifth-largest city, is home to around 523,000 residents.
Due to its location on two major active fault lines, Afghanistan is particularly susceptible to seismic activity. In September, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in the eastern regions of the country resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and more than 3,250 injuries, devastating villages in the Mazar Dara valley.
In 2015, another significant earthquake hit northeastern Afghanistan, claiming hundreds of lives both in Afghanistan and neighboring northern Pakistan. Additionally, in 2023, four large earthquakes, each measuring 6.3 in magnitude, struck Herat province, leading to reported casualties of at least 2,445 individuals, according to the Taliban.
For ongoing updates and information on this developing situation, stay tuned to reliable news sources.
