6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush Region, 07 Dead, 150 Injured

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Islamabad: A powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, with tremors felt across several cities, including Mazar-e-Sharif. The quake resulted in seven fatalities and left 150 people injured in various incidents. Numerous homes were severely damaged as authorities fear the death toll may rise.

In Mazar-e-Sharif, residents fled their homes in panic during the quake. According to the French news agency AFP, people rushed into open areas in the middle of the night, fearing their houses might collapse.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.3 and occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers. Its epicenter was located approximately 22 kilometers southwest of Khulm district in Samangan province. Tremors were also felt in neighboring countries, including Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.

It is worth noting that more than 2,000 people were killed in a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan on August 31 this year. Additionally, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in 2023 claimed at least 4,000 lives.