Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake in Afghanistan Causes At Least 20 Casualties

A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early on 03 November, with its epicentre near Khulm and Mazar-e-Sharif. The powerful tremor killed at least 20 people and injured over 300 across the provinces of Balkh and Samangan. Provincial officials anticipate the number of casualties to rise as rescue efforts continue. Critical infrastructure suffered damage, including parts of the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif. The earthquake follows a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in late August and places immediate strain on the limited capacity of the Afghan government and international aid agencies for emergency response.