Powerful Earthquake Devastates Northern Afghanistan — 20 Dead, Over 320 Injured as Rescue Efforts Continue

Independent Report

KABUL, Nov 3, 2025:
A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck northern Afghanistan on Sunday, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. At least 20 people have been confirmed dead and more than 320 injured, according to initial reports from local authorities.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake’s epicenter was near Khulm city in Balkh province, at a depth of about 28 kilometers. Tremors were felt across several northern provinces including Samangan, Kunduz, Takhar, and Mazar-e-Sharif.

Dozens of homes collapsed while many buildings suffered major cracks. The historic Blue Mosque (Rawza-e-Hazrat Ali) in Mazar-e-Sharif also sustained partial damage, according to local media.

Rescue and relief operations are underway, but difficult terrain and blocked routes are hampering access to remote areas. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Disaster Management warned that the death toll could rise as reports from several villages have yet to be received.

International relief organizations, including the Afghan Red Crescent Society and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), have launched emergency aid operations. The immediate focus, according to UN officials, is to provide medical assistance, temporary shelters, clean water, and food supplies to the affected families.

Aftershocks continue to rattle the region, forcing thousands of people to spend the night in open spaces out of fear of further collapses.

Geologists have reiterated that Afghanistan lies within the seismically active Hindu Kush fault zone, which experiences dozens of moderate to strong earthquakes each year due to tectonic activity.