A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, with early reports indicating at least seven fatalities and over a hundred injuries. The tremors were felt in the early hours of Monday near Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh province, and the town of Khulm. The quake occurred at a depth of 23 kilometers, according to the National Centre for Seismology.
Footage captured on CCTV has surfaced on social media, vividly showing the moment the strong seismic activity shook homes. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has issued an orange alert, warning of potentially significant casualties and widespread damage, necessitating a regional or national response.
This major earthquake follows an earlier, smaller tremor of magnitude 3.9 that hit Afghanistan at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The proximity and shallow nature of earthquakes can increase their danger, leading to more intense ground shaking and potential structural damage. The seismic event was reportedly felt in neighboring Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
