At least 20 dead after strong earthquake strikes northern Afghanistan, damaging historic Blue Mosque

A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan before dawn on Monday, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 640 injured. The tremor caused significant destruction in several communities, including damage to the centuries-old Blue Mosque in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

Local authorities reported that the town of Khulm, near the quake’s epicentre, suffered widespread building collapses. Residents have been digging through debris in search of survivors as rescue operations continue. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense said military and emergency teams have reached the affected zones to assist with relief efforts.

The United Nations in Afghanistan confirmed that humanitarian teams are on the ground assessing the damage and providing urgent assistance to those displaced. The country, already facing severe economic challenges, continues to struggle with limited capacity to respond to natural disasters, particularly in its remote and mountainous areas.