PREVIEW

At Least 20 Dead After 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Afghanistan. At least 20 people have been killed and more than 530 injured after a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, with authorities warning the toll could rise as rescue operations continue. The quake hit near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities with around half a million residents, at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time (20:30 GMT Sunday), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremor, recorded at a depth of 28 kilometers, was rated at the orange alert level — meaning significant casualties and damage were likely. Many residents fled their homes in fear as buildings shook violently. Haji Zaid, a Taliban spokesman in Balkh province, reported “many injuries” in Sholgara district, noting that several victims were hurt after falling from tall buildings. Minor damage was also reported across multiple districts. The quake triggered widespread power outages, including in Kabul, after electricity lines from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — Afghanistan’s main power suppliers — were damaged. Footage shared online showed debris scattered around Mazar-e-Sharif’s historic Blue Mosque, a revered 15th-century Shia shrine believed to house the tomb of Imam Ali’s son-in-law and cousin, Prophet Muhammad. The disaster follows another deadly 6.0-magnitude quake in eastern Afghanistan in August that killed over 1,100 people, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to seismic events due to weak infrastructure and its position atop several tectonic fault lines.
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