Powerful earthquake kills nine at least in northern Afghanistan

November 03, 2025 / 8:48 AM

Sharjah24-AFP: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan overnight, killing at least nine and injuring over 250. The quake, at a depth of 28 km, had its epicentre near Mazar-I-Sharif, according to the US Geological Survey. In Balkh province, four were killed and 120 were hospitalised. In Samangan, five more died, with 143 injured, mostly fleeing collapsing homes.

Residents of Mazar-I-Sharif rushed into the streets as buildings shook during the late-night earthquake. A correspondent at the scene reported widespread panic, with people spending hours outside, fearing aftershocks. Tremors were also felt in Kabul, about 420 kilometres to the south, causing concern among residents of the capital.

Poor communication and limited road access in Afghanistan’s mountainous regions continue to impede relief efforts, delaying assessment and rescue operations in remote areas.

A series of deadly earthquakes

The disaster marks the latest in a series of powerful earthquakes to strike Afghanistan in recent years. Since the Taliban took control in 2021, the country has endured three major quakes, stretching already limited resources and international aid.

In August 2025, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in the east killed more than 2,200 people, while earlier tremors in Herat (2023) and Nangarhar (2022) destroyed thousands of homes and displaced entire communities.

Worsening humanitarian conditions

The United Nations and international aid agencies have warned of escalating humanitarian crises across Afghanistan, as hunger and poverty intensify amid economic sanctions, drought, and the return of millions of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan.

The country extends across the Hindu Kush mountain range, an earthquake-prone zone where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet. Many Afghan dwellings, especially in rural and mountainous regions, are poorly built and cannot endure strong tremors, making residents highly vulnerable.