A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar-i-Sharif, leaving at least 27 people dead and nearly 1,000 injured. Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed, and the city’s historic Blue Mosque also suffered damage.
Residents in areas near the epicenter, including Tangi Tashqurgan, have been digging through rubble and reinforcing unstable buildings. Local shopkeeper Mohammad Yasin described fears that many structures could collapse at any moment.
Relief operations face severe challenges due to harsh winter conditions, damaged health facilities, and poor road infrastructure, according to the Red Cross and World Health Organization. Winter’s freezing temperatures are making it harder for rescue teams to reach affected communities.
The quake comes amid multiple crises in Afghanistan, including the devastating August earthquake in the east, decreasing foreign aid, and mass deportations of Afghan refugees. The United Nations, India, and China have pledged assistance to support recovery efforts.
Afghanistan is prone to deadly earthquakes, with an average of 560 fatalities annually due to rudimentary building techniques and its mountainous terrain. Experts recommend constructing earthquake-resistant buildings and retrofitting existing structures to reduce future risks.
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