Afghanistan’s 6.3 earthquake strikes vulnerable nation

A powerful earthquake jolted northern Afghanistan early Monday morning, claiming at least 20 lives and leaving hundreds injured in a disaster that struck the country’s already fragile infrastructure. The 6.3-magnitude tremor, centered near the historic city of Mazar-e Sharif, has intensified concerns about Afghanistan’s ability to respond to natural disasters amid ongoing political and humanitarian challenges.

The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a depth of 28 kilometers, with its epicenter positioned dangerously close to Mazar-e Sharif, a city of approximately 523,000 residents. As rescue operations continue, officials warn that the death toll will likely climb as emergency teams reach isolated villages in the hardest-hit provinces of Balkh and Samangan.

Casualties Continue to Mount

Health Ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman confirmed that around 320 people sustained injuries in the initial hours following the quake. Emergency responders have been working tirelessly to extract survivors from collapsed structures, with footage circulating on social media platforms showing the grim reality of rescue operations. Videos depicted workers carefully navigating through debris, recovering both survivors and victims from crumbled buildings.

Medical facilities throughout the region have activated emergency protocols, with rescue and health teams deployed to affected areas and nearby hospitals placed on standby to accommodate the influx of injured patients. Officials emphasized the coordinated mobilization efforts to address the unfolding crisis.

The scale of destruction suggests that many victims remain trapped beneath rubble in remote areas where access remains limited. Concerns persist about medical facilities’ capacity to handle the surge of casualties as more patients arrive from outlying regions.

Historic Blue Mosque Suffers Afghanistan Damage

Among the most significant losses was damage to the Blue Mosque, Mazar-e-Sharif’s most sacred shrine. Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid confirmed that portions of the revered structure sustained damage during the seismic event.

The mosque holds profound religious significance for Afghans and Muslims worldwide, as it is believed to contain the burial site of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. The current architectural marvel dates to the 15th century and represents centuries of Islamic heritage.

Verified footage revealed broken masonry and decorative tiles scattered across the mosque’s courtyard, though structural engineers noted that the main building remained intact. The damage to this cultural landmark adds a symbolic dimension to an already devastating natural disaster.

Infrastructure Cripples Under Seismic Stress

The earthquake‘s impact extended far beyond the immediate epicenter, disrupting electrical services across Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul. Da Afghanistan Breshna Company, the national power supplier, acknowledged widespread outages in an official statement, highlighting the country’s vulnerable infrastructure.

The USGS assessment painted a sobering picture, predicting substantial casualties and characterizing the disaster as potentially widespread in scope. This evaluation aligns with historical data suggesting that earthquakes of this magnitude typically require regional or national-level emergency responses.

Emergency officials indicated that past seismic events triggering similar alert levels have necessitated coordinated responses spanning entire regions or nations, underscoring the severity of the current situation.

A Nation Already on Edge

This latest catastrophe compounds the numerous challenges facing Afghanistan’s Taliban administration. The government continues struggling with the aftermath of an August earthquake that claimed thousands of lives, while simultaneously confronting a dramatic reduction in international aid and managing the mass deportation of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries.

Afghanistan‘s geographical position makes it particularly susceptible to seismic activity. The nation sits atop two active fault lines capable of rupturing and generating devastating earthquakes. The August disaster, which killed more than 2,200 people and injured thousands more in southeastern regions, demonstrated the country’s acute vulnerability to such events.

The combination of ongoing political instability, limited resources and inadequate infrastructure creates a perfect storm that amplifies the impact of natural disasters. Emergency response capabilities remain severely constrained, while international assistance has diminished significantly since the Taliban’s return to power.

As rescue operations continue and the full extent of the damage becomes apparent, Afghanistan faces yet another test of resilience. The international community watches closely, weighing humanitarian obligations against political considerations in a nation where every disaster reveals deeper structural challenges.

Source: Reuters