KABUL, Afghanistan — A robust, 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan earlier than daybreak Monday, killing no less than 20 folks and injuring greater than 300 others, a well being official mentioned.
The U.S. Geological Survey mentioned the quake’s epicenter was situated 22 kilometers west-southwest of the city of Khulm, and that it struck at 12:59 a.m. at a depth of 28 kilometers.
Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Well being, mentioned the quake killed no less than 20 folks and injured 320 others.
Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s catastrophe administration company, mentioned many of the injured suffered minor wounds and had been discharged after receiving preliminary remedy.
Within the Afghan capital of Kabul, the Ministry of Protection introduced that rescue and emergency help groups have reached the areas affected by final night time’s earthquake within the provinces of Balkh and Samangan, which suffered probably the most harm, and have begun rescue operations, together with transporting the injured and helping affected households.
The Taliban authorities’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, in a submit on X platform mentioned the earthquake hit Afghanistan’s Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces, inflicting casualties and monetary loss. He expressed his sorrow and grief over the losses and mentioned related governmental organizations had been busy attempting to get wanted assist to the folks affected by the quake.
In line with the Afghan officers, the earthquake was additionally felt in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province.
In Mazar-e-Sharif, footage circulating on social media confirmed harm to the historic Blue Mosque. A number of bricks had fallen from the partitions however the mosque remained intact. The centuries-old website is considered one of Afghanistan’s most revered non secular landmarks and a serious gathering place throughout Islamic and cultural festivals.
The quake was felt in Kabul and a number of other different provinces in Afghanistan. The protection ministry mentioned in an announcement {that a} rockslide briefly blocked a principal mountain freeway linking Kabul with Mazar-e-Sharif, however the street was later reopened. It mentioned some individuals who had been injured and trapped alongside the freeway had been transported to the hospital.
The United Nations in Afghanistan mentioned on X that Monday’s earthquake got here simply weeks after a lethal earthquake struck jap Afghanistan. The U.N. mentioned its groups are on the bottom assessing wants and delivering pressing help.
“We stand with the affected communities and can present the mandatory help,” the submit mentioned.
Afghanistan has been rattled by a collection of earthquakes lately and the impoverished nation typically faces issue in responding to such pure disasters, particularly in distant areas. Buildings are usually low-rise constructions, principally of concrete and brick, with properties in rural and outlying areas produced from mud bricks and wooden, many poorly constructed.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit jap Afghanistan on Aug. 31 close to the border with Pakistan, killing greater than 2,200 folks. On Oct. 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake adopted by robust aftershocks left no less than 4,000 folks useless, in response to the Taliban authorities.
