A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan early Monday morning. The quake hit Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country’s largest cities. Health officials said at least nine people died and over 250 were injured. Rescue teams are still searching through the debris. Officials warned that the death toll could rise.
Deaths and Injuries Reported in Two Provinces
Kamal Khan Zadran, a health department spokesman, said four people were killed in Balkh province, where Mazar-e-Sharif is located. Mohammadullah Hamad from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said five people died and 143 were injured in neighboring Samangan province.
This earthquake came just months after a 6.0 magnitude quake killed at least 2,200 people across Afghanistan in August.
USGS Confirms Magnitude and Issues Alert
Local reports first claimed the quake’s magnitude was 6.2. The US Geological Survey (USGS) later confirmed it was 6.3. The agency also issued an orange alert, warning that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
The quake struck at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e-Sharif, a city of about 523,000 people.
Shocking Moments Caught on Camera
Videos on social media showed widespread damage. A CCTV clip from a house in Mazar-e-Sharif captured the moment the earthquake hit. Other videos showed rescuers pulling bodies from rubble and searching for survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.
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
Afghanistan’s High Quake Risk
Afghanistan lies on several fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. This makes the country highly prone to earthquakes. Many of them are shallow, releasing strong energy near the surface and causing major destruction.
In August, the Taliban government said 2,200 people were killed in a 6.0 magnitude quake. Earlier, officials reported 1,400 deaths and over 3,000 injuries, but the numbers rose as rescue efforts continued.
Rescue Operations Underway
Rescue teams are still working in the affected areas. They are pulling survivors from debris and treating the injured.
Rescue Efforts After 6.3 Earthquake in Tashkurgan, Afghanistan
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) November 2, 2025
Locals in Tashkurgan are working to rescue people trapped under the rubble following a 6.3-magnitude earthquake. pic.twitter.com/ujsMNyWYbT
The national disaster management agency told Reuters that more details on casualties and damage will be released soon.