A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit near Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan early on Monday, resulting in the loss of at least 20 lives, injuries to hundreds of individuals, and significant damage to the iconic Blue Mosque in the city. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers close to Mazar-e Sharif, a city with a population of around 523,000 residents.
Survivor Mohammad Rahim, located in the Tashqurghan district near the earthquake’s epicenter, described the intense shaking lasting for about 15 seconds. After the tremors subsided, the air was filled with so much dust that visibility was severely limited. Fortunately, rescue teams and locals managed to extricate Rahim’s mother and brother from the debris of a collapsed building.
Initial estimates from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority indicated that the earthquake claimed the lives of 20 individuals, with 643 sustaining injuries, including 25 in critical condition. Health Ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman confirmed the deployment of rescue and medical teams to the affected area, with nearby hospitals placed on alert to handle the influx of casualties.
Images released by the Afghan Ministry of Defence showed military personnel engaged in rescue operations, including the recovery of a young girl’s body from the rubble. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan pledged its support for the ongoing rescue efforts, emphasizing solidarity with the affected communities.
India, in a diplomatic gesture to mend relations with the Taliban, offered assistance to the earthquake-impacted regions. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced the dispatch of relief materials and medicines to aid the affected communities.
The seismic activity also caused damage to the revered Blue Mosque in Mazar-e Sharif, a significant religious site in Afghanistan believed to be the resting place of Prophet Mohammad’s cousin and son-in-law. Social media footage verified by Reuters depicted the courtyard of the mosque strewn with debris, though the primary structure remained intact.
The earthquake presents a fresh challenge for Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, already grappling with a multitude of crises, including a previous devastating quake in August, dwindling foreign aid, and the mass deportation of Afghan refugees by neighboring nations. The widespread power outages following the earthquake affected various parts of the country, including the capital city of Kabul.
Save the Children expressed concern over the humanitarian impact of the earthquake, particularly as winter approaches, posing additional hardships for vulnerable communities, especially children. The organization highlighted the dire conditions faced by families in the quake-affected regions, who are now contending with uncertainty and fear amidst the aftermath of the disaster.
Afghanistan’s geographical location makes it susceptible to earthquakes due to its placement over two active fault lines, increasing the risk of seismic events with the potential for significant destruction. The recent earthquake reiterates the country’s vulnerability to such natural disasters, with past incidents necessitating substantial regional and national-level responses to address the ensuing humanitarian crises.