A powerful earthquake struck the Hindu Kush mountain region in northern Afghanistan on Monday, causing significant devastation. According to initial reports, the natural disaster has claimed at least 20 lives and left more than 320 people injured.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) registered the quake at a 6.3 magnitude. Its epicenter was located 22 kilometers southwest of the Khulm district in Samangan province, at a relatively shallow depth of 28 kilometers.
The tremors were so strong that buildings swayed in several northern Afghan cities, including Mazar-i-Sharif, Kunduz, Balkh, and Takhar. In a state of panic, residents fled their homes, with many forced to spend the night in open fields due to fears of aftershocks.
International news agencies report that dozens of houses have collapsed, raising concerns that more people could be trapped under the rubble. Officials fear that the death toll may rise. The quake’s impact was not confined to Afghanistan; tremors were also felt in the neighboring countries of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
This latest disaster hits a nation still reeling from previous seismic events. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake on August 31 of this year killed over 2,000 people, while another 6.3 magnitude quake in 2023 resulted in more than 4,000 fatalities.
