Seven killed, over 150 injured as powerful earthquake hits Afghanistan

At least seven people were killed and more than 150 injured after a powerful earthquake struck Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. The 6.3-magnitude quake hit at 12:59 am local time on Monday, November 3.

According to Reuters, numerous houses collapsed due to the tremor, and rescue operations are still underway. Authorities fear that the death toll may rise further. The epicentre of the earthquake was about 28 kilometres deep.

An AFP correspondent reported that tremors were also felt in the capital, Kabul. Many residents of Mazar-i-Sharif rushed out of their homes and spent the night outdoors, fearing aftershocks and further collapses.

Afghanistan has repeatedly been struck by devastating earthquakes. In August last year, a 6-magnitude quake killed more than 2,200 people, one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s history.

Since the Taliban took power in 2021, the country has suffered a series of natural calamities. In 2023, a quake in Herat Province killed 1,500 people and destroyed 63,000 houses.

Situated near the Hindu Kush mountain range, Afghanistan lies in an active seismic zone where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates frequently collide, causing regular earthquakes.