A powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan early Monday morning, near the major city of Mazar-i-Sharif, registering a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale. According to Hazrat Zayeed, spokesperson for the Balkh Province governor, four deaths have been confirmed, with 150 others injured. However, some unconfirmed reports suggest that the death toll could reach twelve.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located close to Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh Province and near the city of Khulm. The quake occurred at a depth of approximately 28 kilometers. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that hundreds of lives could be at risk due to the quake’s severity, and extensive damage is also feared.
Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority reported that tremors were felt in several areas of the country around 1 AM local time. The earthquake’s intensity was significant enough to be felt in neighboring countries, including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
Spokesperson Zayeed noted that the renowned Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif has suffered severe damage. Reports indicate that debris has accumulated outside the mosque. The USGS’s Automatic Earthquake Warning System (PAGER) issued an orange alert following the quake.
Rahima, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif and a former school teacher, spoke to the media about the panic experienced by her family after the quake. “The children were screaming and running around in fear. I have never felt an earthquake this powerful in my life,” she stated.
She also mentioned that some windows in her home were broken, and the walls sustained damage. Rahima expressed her concern about the extent of the destruction following the earthquake.
