An earthquake has struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar-e Sharif, one of the country's largest cities, at around 20:30 GMT (01:00 local time). The quake measured 6.3 in magnitude and occurred at a depth of 28km (17 miles), as reported by the US Geological Survey.
The agency has warned of 'significant casualties' and 'potentially widespread' disaster as a result of the quake. In a post on X, a Taliban spokesman in Balkh, which has Mazar-e Sharif as its capital, indicated some reports of minor injuries and superficial damage across various districts in the province.
According to the spokesman, most injuries stemmed from people falling from tall buildings as they fled the shaking. Mazar-e Sharif, home to over 500,000 residents, witnessed many individuals pouring into the streets in fear of building collapses.
The Taliban spokesperson also shared a video on X showing debris scattered at the Blue Mosque, an important local landmark believed to house the tomb of the first Shia Imam. This site is a gathering point for pilgrims and major religious events.
This earthquake comes in the wake of a 6.0 magnitude quake that struck Afghanistan's eastern mountainous region in late August, resulting in more than 1,000 fatalities. Afghanistan's geographical setting, lying atop several fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, makes it particularly susceptible to seismic activities.
