20 dead after earthquake hits Afghanistan

New Delhi, Nov 3: At least 20 people have been killed and more than 500 injured after a powerful earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, according to local authorities and international media.

The 6.3-magnitude quake, which hit near Mazar-e-Sharif, caused widespread damage across Balkh and neighbouring provinces. The tremor, recorded at a depth of 28km, was marked at the orange alert level by the US Geological Survey, indicating a high likelihood of significant casualties, media reported.

Rescue teams continue searching through debris in several districts, with officials warning that the death toll is likely to rise as more bodies are recovered. The earthquake caused power outages across much of the country, including Kabul, after transmission lines from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were damaged.

Authorities reported structural damage in parts of Mazar-e-Sharif, including the historic Blue Mosque, while nearby Samangan province also reported fatalities. Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain and fragile infrastructure have made rescue operations challenging, reports BBC. The latest disaster comes just months after a similar 6.0-magnitude quake struck the country’s eastern region, killing more than 1,100 people. Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location along the fault line between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.