A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan on Friday, leaving at least four people dead and dozens injured, according to reports. The quake sent residents of Mazar-i-Sharif scrambling for safety, with families waking to violent shaking and widespread damage.
Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location in a seismically active region, and the disaster underscores the country’s ongoing challenges with infrastructure and disaster preparedness.The latest quake follows a series of devastating tremors in recent years, including a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in August that killed at least 800 people and injured over 2,800, and a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in October 2023 that left more than 2,000 dead in western afghanistan.
“I have never experienced such a strong earthquake in my life,” said Rahima, a former teacher in Mazar-i-sharif, adding that some of her windows were broken and plaster on walls was damaged. A resident told CNN her family “woke up terrified” and her children “ran down the stairs screaming” when the earthquake occurred.
The quake, wich struck Friday, was followed by at least five aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.2, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Concerns are growing for those living in rural areas, where homes are often constructed from mud and are particularly susceptible to collapse. “I’m happy that my house is concrete in the city,” one resident told CNN. “I don’t know if the mud houses on the outskirts have survived this earthquake.”
