At Least Eight Killed as Powerful Earthquake Hits Northern Afghanistan

At least eight people have been killed and more than 180 injured after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, BBC reported. 

The quake hit Mazar-e-Sharif, a city of around 500,000 residents, at around 1:00 AM local time (20:30 GMT), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The tremor occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers and was marked at an orange alert level, indicating a high risk of casualties and damage.

Footage shared online showed debris scattered around the Blue Mosque, one of Mazar-e-Sharif’s most famous landmarks and an important religious site.

Authorities said rescue teams are working in affected areas, and the police in Kabul are closely monitoring the situation.

The quake’s impact was also felt in Samangan province, where additional deaths were reported.

This latest disaster comes just two months after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan, killing over 1,000 people. Experts note that Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its position along the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plate boundaries.