A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan overnight, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 500, according to the Taliban Ministry of Public Health. The quake, which hit shortly before 1 a.m. local time on Monday, sent residents fleeing into the streets of Mazar-i-Sharif and nearby towns in panic.
CCTV footage shows the moment a strong M6.3 earthquake struck Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/NX0o04Ggi5
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) November 2, 2025
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter was 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of Khulm, near Mazar-i-Sharif, at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles). The tremor was felt as far away as Kabul and surrounding provinces, with the worst damage reported in Balkh and Samangan, where dozens of homes collapsed and debris filled the streets.
“The earth shook violently for about 15 seconds,” said Mohammad Rahim, a survivor from the Tashqurghan district near the epicenter. “When we finally got outside, there was so much dust in the air we couldn’t see anything.”
His mother and brother were trapped under rubble but later freed by rescue workers and neighbors, he told Reuters.
Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said that hospitals in the affected areas had been placed on high alert and mobile medical teams dispatched to the scene. “Our rescue and health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby,” Zaman said. Officials warned that the casualty toll could rise as crews reach remote villages cut off by damaged roads.
Footage released by the Afghan Ministry of Defence showed military rescue teams digging through debris and pulling bodies from the rubble, including that of a young girl. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was “on the ground supporting rescue efforts” and pledged to assist affected communities.
The earthquake also damaged part of Mazar-i-Sharif’s famed Blue Mosque, one of Afghanistan’s most revered landmarks and believed to be the burial site of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. The mosque’s 15th-century structure suffered damage to one of its minarets and surrounding tilework, though the main building remained intact.
Videos verified by Reuters showed broken tiles scattered across the courtyard. The Blue Mosque, adorned with thousands of blue-glazed tiles, is not only a religious site but also a symbol of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and a gathering place for major festivals.
The quake caused power disruptions across multiple provinces, including the capital Kabul, according to the national utility company Da Afghanistan Breshna. The USGS issued an orange alert, indicating that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
In Kabul, falling rocks temporarily blocked the main highway to Mazar-i-Sharif, though it was later reopened. Several travelers were reportedly rescued and taken to local hospitals after being trapped by the landslide.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has killed at least 20 people as it struck northern Afghanistan near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 3, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/x3mH1jknZn pic.twitter.com/YqVfGhULkX
Afghanistan sits atop two major tectonic fault lines, making it highly prone to earthquakes. The country has suffered a string of devastating tremors in recent years — including an August 31 quake in the east that killed more than 2,200 people, and a 2023 quake near Herat that left thousands dead and homeless.
Poor infrastructure and widespread poverty make rescue and recovery efforts especially difficult. Most homes in rural areas are built with mud bricks and wood, offering little resistance to seismic shocks.
This latest disaster comes amid a cascade of crises for the Taliban-led government — including severe drought, economic isolation, dwindling foreign aid, and the mass deportation of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries.
