Earthquake in Northern Afghanistan Kills Over 20, Injuries Exceed 320

More than 20 people have died and over 320 have been injured after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan today, November 3, 2025, at approximately 01:00 local time.

The earthquake, which had a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles) according to the US Geological Survey, impacted Balkh province and surrounding areas. Sharafat Zaman Amar, spokesperson for the Taliban government health ministry, confirmed the rising casualty count, stating that “more than 20 people have been killed and more than 320 injured.” Initial reports indicate many injuries were sustained after people fell from buildings while attempting to evacuate.

Damage has been reported across the region, including at the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, a significant religious site for Shia Muslims. Taliban officials reported receiving “reports of minor injuries and superficial damages from all districts of the province.” This event underscores Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic activity due to its location on major tectonic plate boundaries – a factor that has historically led to devastating consequences for the country’s infrastructure and population. You can learn more about earthquake preparedness from the Ready.gov website.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, and authorities anticipate the death toll will increase as they reach more remote areas. Khalid Zadran, a Taliban spokesman for the police in Kabul, stated that police teams are “closely monitoring the situation.” This disaster comes just months after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in August resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, highlighting the ongoing challenges of disaster response in Afghanistan.

Officials say they are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage and are working to provide aid to those affected.