KABUL: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region early Monday morning, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 150, according to local and international reports.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers, with its epicenter located about 22 kilometers southwest of Khulm district in Samangan province.
Strong tremors were felt in Mazar-i-Sharif and several other northern Afghan cities, as well as in neighboring countries including Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
Residents in Mazar-i-Sharif ran out of their homes in panic during the night, fearing that buildings might collapse. Local authorities have warned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue in affected areas.
This latest quake follows a series of deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan over the past two years. In August 2025, a 6.0-magnitude quake killed over 2,000 people, while in 2023, another 6.3-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks claimed at least 4,000 lives.
