A devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 500 others, according to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. The quake’s epicenter was near Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, and occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The tremor, which struck just before 1:00 a.m. local time, caused widespread panic as residents fled their homes in the middle of the night. The quake was also felt in Kabul, over 400 kilometers away.
Officials say the worst-hit areas include Balkh and Samangan provinces, where landslides and damaged roads have hampered rescue operations. In Samangan, five people were confirmed dead and 143 injured, while Balkh reported four deaths and over 120 injuries.
Hospitals in the region were flooded with patients, many of whom have since been discharged after receiving treatment. However, authorities fear the death toll could rise as emergency teams reach more remote villages.
The earthquake also caused structural damage to the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious landmarks.
This is the latest in a series of deadly quakes to hit Afghanistan in recent years. In August, a 6.0-magnitude quake in the east killed more than 2,200 people. The country’s vulnerability to seismic activity is worsened by poor infrastructure, mud-brick housing, and limited emergency response capacity.
The World Health Organization and Afghan Red Crescent have deployed teams to assist with emergency care and relief distribution.
