Kabul / Mazar-e-Sharif:
A powerful earthquake hit Mazar-e-Sharif and nearby areas late at night, causing widespread damage and panic among residents.
According to initial reports, at least 150 people have lost their lives, and many others have been injured.
Earthquake Details
The tremors were felt around 10:50 PM, with the earthquake originating from the Hindukush mountain region of Afghanistan.
The sudden shaking forced people to run out of their homes into open fields, as buildings and houses began to shake violently.
Damage and Casualties
Several houses in Mazar-e-Sharif were badly damaged, while rescue workers rushed to help those trapped under debris.
A large number of injured people have been taken to hospitals in Mazar-e-Sharif and Kunduz, where emergency has been declared.
Government Response
Officials are currently assessing the full extent of the damage, both in terms of lives lost and property destruction.
Authorities have promised immediate relief and aid for the affected families, ensuring that rescue operations continue without delay.
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-e Sharif in northern
Afghanistan early on November 3, 2025, at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles), affecting a city of about 523,000 people.
At least seven people were killed and around 150 injured, according to provincial authorities in nearby Samangan province, with victims transferred to health centers based on Monday morning hospital reports.
The U.S. Geological Survey issued an orange alert, indicating significant casualties are likely and the disaster could be widespread, potentially requiring a regional or national response.
Damage included partial destruction to the historic Blue Mosque, a holy shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif, as reported by Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid.
Afghanistan’s vulnerability stems from its position on two major active faults.
Recent events include an August quake that killed and injured thousands, a 2015 northeastern tremor that claimed hundreds of lives in Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, and a 2023 quake that killed at least 1,000.