6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Kills 20, Injures 75 in Balkh Afghanistan

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Balkh province in northern Afghanistan near Mazar-e-Sharif, causing significant damage and casualties. The quake caused parts of the historic shrine in Mazar-e-Sharif to collapse, damaged homes in rural areas, and blocked the Samangan–Balkh highway due to landslides, resulting in further fatalities. Official death toll estimates vary, with reports of at least four to twenty fatalities and many more injured, as emergency rescue efforts continue amid fragile infrastructure. The earthquake was felt across several provinces, including Kabul, and caused widespread panic, with many people fleeing their homes. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations are monitoring the situation and preparing to provide aid, including emergency shelters and medical supplies. This event adds to the recent series of seismic disasters in Afghanistan, a country highly susceptible to earthquakes due to its location along active tectonic fault lines.