Powerful 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Afghanistan, Killing Dozens and Damaging Historic Blue Mosque

KABUL, Afghanistan – November 3, 2025 – A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan in the early hours of Monday morning, killing at least 27 people, injuring hundreds, and causing widespread damage to homes and critical infrastructure, including the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The earthquake occurred at approximately 12:59 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located about 23 kilometers (14 miles) southwest of the town of Khulm in Balkh province, at a relatively shallow depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles).

The provinces of Balkh and Samangan have been reported as the hardest-hit regions. Officials have confirmed that the death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. Reports on the number of injured vary, with some figures exceeding 700.

Widespread Devastation and Damage

The pre-dawn tremor caught residents by surprise, toppling buildings and triggering panic. In numerous villages, residents and rescuers were seen digging through the rubble of collapsed mud-brick homes, a common form of construction in the region that is highly vulnerable to seismic activity.

Key impacts reported so far include:

• Historic Landmark Damaged: The revered 15th-century Blue Mosque, or Mausoleum of Imam Ali, in Mazar-i-Sharif sustained damage. Reports and images from the scene show that bricks and tiles have fallen from the structure, particularly from one of its ornate minarets.

• Landslide and Infrastructure Collapse: The earthquake triggered a major landslide on the Asian Highway 7, a key route connecting Kabul to the north. The slide reportedly killed 10 people and trapped others in their vehicles.

• Power Outages: Damage to power lines importing electricity from neighboring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan caused blackouts in at least nine provinces, including the capital, Kabul. Authorities reported that repair work is underway.

Tremors were felt across a wide area, including the capital Kabul and the provinces of Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Kunduz. The quake was also felt in the neighboring countries of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

Emergency Response Underway

The USGS issued an "Orange Alert" for the earthquake, indicating that "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread," warranting a regional or national-level response.

Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority, under the Taliban administration, has dispatched emergency and rescue teams to the affected areas. The Ministry of Defense has also deployed teams to assist in the rescue efforts and to clear blocked roads.

Humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to respond to the crisis.

• The United Nations stated its teams are on the ground assessing the urgent needs and beginning to deliver aid.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed its staff are supporting the delivery of emergency healthcare to the injured.

• Save the Children announced it is sending an emergency health team to the impacted region.

• The Afghan Red Crescent Society is actively involved in search and rescue operations.

The international community has begun to respond, with Pakistan, India, and Japan among the nations offering condolences and support.

This disaster is the latest in a series of deadly earthquakes to hit Afghanistan, a country already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis. The nation's location atop active tectonic plates makes it highly susceptible to seismic events, with the impact often worsened by decades of conflict and a lack of resilient infrastructure.