Powerful 6.3 quake kills at least 20 in Afghanistan, hundreds injured

A rescuer works following an earthquake at an unidentified location in Afghanistan. (REUTERS)

A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on Monday, killing at least 20 people, injuring hundreds and damaging the city's historic Blue Mosque, authorities said, with the death toll likely to rise.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e Sharif, a city of around 523,000 famous for its shrines and historic sites.

Mohammad Rahim, a survivor in Tashqurghan district close to the quake's epicentre, said the earth shook violently for around 15 seconds.

"When we finally got outside, there was so much dust in the air that we couldn’t see anything," he told Reuters while standing in front of a collapsed building.

His mother and brother, who were both trapped in the rubble, were eventually freed by rescue workers and other locals, he said.

At least 20 people were killed and over 500 were injured, Health Ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman said, but officials warned the toll could rise as rescue teams reached remote villages in the worst-hit provinces of Balkh and Samangan.

"Our rescue and health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby by the leadership to treat the injured," Zaman said.

Footage released by the Afghan Ministry of Defence showed military rescue teams digging through rubble and pulling the body of a young girl from the dirt. Reuters was not able to independently verify the location and date of the images.

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said in a post on social media platform X it was on the ground supporting rescue efforts.

"We stand with the affected communities and will provide necessary support," the post said.

BLUE MOSQUE

The earthquake damaged part of the Blue Mosque, considered one of the holiest sites in Afghanistan and believed to be the burial site of the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad, Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid said.

The current structure was built in the 15th century.

Footage shared on social media and verified by Reuters showed broken masonry and tiles lying in the courtyard of the mosque, though the main structure remained standing.

The disaster is the latest challenge for war-torn Afghanistan's Taliban administration, already grappling with crises including an August quake that killed thousands, a sharp drop in foreign aid and mass deportations of Afghan refugees by neighbouring countries.

The quake disrupted power across the country, including to the capital Kabul, national power supplier Da Afghanistan Breshna Company said in a statement.

The USGS said "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread".

ACTIVE FAULTS    

Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to quakes as it lies on two active faults that have the potential to rupture and cause extensive damage.

More than 2,200 people were killed and thousands more injured after a quake and strong aftershocks in the southeast of the war-shattered country at the end of August.

Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response, the system's alert added.