Deadly Earthquake in Northern Afghanistan Kills 27, Injures Hundreds

Deadly Earthquake in Northern Afghanistan Kills 27, Injures Hundreds
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At least 27 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, according to officials, as reported by Reuters. The quake hit near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, damaging hundreds of homes and the city’s historic Blue Mosque, authorities said.

The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said hundreds of houses were either completely destroyed or severely damaged, raising concerns as winter approaches and temperatures begin to drop below freezing. Relief operations have been hampered by poor road conditions and limited infrastructure, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said, describing the situation as “immensely difficult.”

The World Health Organization reported that several health facilities were damaged, complicating medical care for the nearly 1,000 injured. Local residents near the epicenter in Tangi Tashqurgan were seen digging through rubble and reinforcing weakened structures, fearing further collapses.

The disaster adds to the challenges facing Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, which is already contending with economic hardship, declining foreign aid, and recent mass deportations of refugees from neighboring countries. The United Nations, India, and China have pledged humanitarian assistance to support recovery efforts.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its mountainous terrain and fragile infrastructure. Experts say traditional construction methods and poor building standards significantly increase casualties, with an estimated 560 people killed annually by earthquakes nationwide.