A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, causing numerous injuries and prompting fears of significant, unconfirmed damage in remote regions as rescue teams mobilize.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the tremor occurred early Friday morning local time, at approximately 12:59 a.m. (2029 GMT Thursday). Its epicenter was near Khulm, a city in Balkh province, close to Mazar-i-Sharif, at a depth of about 28 kilometers.
A spokesman for the Taliban administration in Balkh province confirmed initial reports of minor injuries and some damage across all districts. Most of the injuries were attributed to people falling from tall buildings during the shaking.
No official confirmation of fatalities or widespread structural damage has been released yet. Authorities are continuing to assess the full impact of the quake.
Rescue agencies and officials are rapidly deploying to inspect the affected areas. They cautioned that more extensive and hidden damage could still be discovered in the region’s remote communities.