Powerful 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Afghanistan: At Least 7 Dead, Over 150 Injured; Shocking Tremors Caught on Video

Death Toll Expected to Climb as Rescuers Work in Major Afghan City

At least seven people died after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan. The quake hit on Monday morning. Reuters cited the local health directorate for the casualty count. A total of 150 people were also hurt in the powerful shaking. These injuries happened in the large city of Mazar-e Sharif.

Rescue work is ongoing in this major Afghan city. Therefore, officials expect the current death toll to increase. This new earthquake follows another devastating one months earlier. That magnitude 6 quake killed at least 2,200 people. It also left a much larger number injured. Initial reports first suggested a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale. However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) later confirmed the magnitude as 6.3.

The strong shaking led the USGS to issue an ‘orange alert’. This alert came via its PAGER system. The alert means “significant casualties are likely.” It also suggests the “disaster is potentially widespread.”

Tremors Captured on Camera

Social media platforms are now filled with images of destruction. CCTV footage from a Mazar-e Sharif home has gone viral. It captured the exact moment the earthquake hit the Afghan city.

The USGS reported the quake’s epicenter. It was at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles). The location was near Mazar-e Sharif. About 523,000 people live in this city. Reuters reported on the ongoing rescue efforts. Afghanistan’s national disaster management agency commented on this. They said damage and casualty details would be shared later.

Other videos show rescuers actively working on social media. They are saving people trapped under debris and fallen rubble. One video shared on X shows the search efforts. Rescuers were pulling what looked like dead bodies from the rubble. They also searched for other victims caught in the destruction.

2,200 Deaths Followed August Quake

The Taliban administration shared figures from an earlier disaster. They stated at least 2,200 people died in August. That previous event was a 6.0 magnitude earthquake.

Previous estimates from Taliban spokespersons were lower. They reported 1,400 killed and over 3,000 injured. That figure unfortunately grew as rescue operations progressed. Afghanistan is a landlocked nation. It is prone to earthquakes due to its geography. The country sits on several fault lines. This is where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Moreover, many quakes near Kabul are shallow. This shallow depth releases high energy near the surface. This causes substantial and severe damage.