Kabul | November 2,2025 | Sky Link Times
Afghanistan Earthquake:
At least seven people were killed and more than 150 injured after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Sunday, causing widespread panic and damage across Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, officials confirmed.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles), near Mazar-e-Sharif — a city home to over half a million people.
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Part of Mazar-i-Sharif’s Holy Shrine Damaged
Local authorities reported that the quake caused partial destruction of the holy shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious sites.
Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid told Reuters that portions of the Mazar-i-Sharif shrine suffered serious structural damage, though efforts are underway to assess the full extent of the destruction.
“A total of 150 people injured and seven martyred have been reported and transferred to health centres as of this morning,” said Samim Joyanda, spokesperson for the provincial health department.
He added that the figures were based on hospital reports collected as of Monday morning, with rescue and relief operations still ongoing.
USGS Issues Orange Alert — Significant Damage Feared
The USGS issued an orange alert through its PAGER system (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response), indicating that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
Past events with a similar alert level have required regional or national emergency responses, highlighting the severity of the current situation.
Local hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed with patients, while emergency teams continue to search for survivors amid debris and damaged buildings.
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Afghanistan Earthquake Vulnerability
Afghanistan is highly earthquake-prone, lying at the intersection of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Frequent tremors, particularly along the Hindu Kush mountain range, make the region one of the most seismically active in the world.
In August 2025, a powerful quake and its aftershocks killed thousands, while past earthquakes in western Herat (2023) and eastern Nangarhar (2022) claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed thousands of homes.
The country’s fragile infrastructure, combined with economic hardship, drought, and limited international aid, compounds the challenge of effective disaster response.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The United Nations and various aid agencies have warned that Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is worsening due to food shortages, drought, and restrictions on international funding.
With millions displaced and vulnerable populations living in poorly built housing, even moderate tremors can result in catastrophic damage.
Relief agencies have begun coordinating with local authorities to assess immediate needs, including medical aid, shelter, and food supplies for those affected.
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