Mazar I Sharif — A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked northern Afghanistan overnight on Monday, November 3, 2025, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 320 across the provinces of Balkh and Samangan. The shallow quake centered just 28 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface near Mazar-i-Sharif triggered landslides, collapsed homes, and inflicted damage on one of the nation’s most sacred landmarks: the historic Blue Mosque.
As rescue teams race against time to reach remote villages, officials warn the death toll could rise. The disaster marks Afghanistan’s third major deadly earthquake in just over two years, underscoring the country’s extreme seismic vulnerability and fragile capacity to respond amid an ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis.
Widespread Destruction and Rising Humanitarian Needs
The violent tremors jolted residents from their sleep, sending families fleeing into the streets in panic. In towns across northern Afghanistan, hundreds of homes, schools, and public buildings collapsed, trapping people under rubble. Many survivors now sleep outdoors, too fearful of aftershocks to return indoors.
According to preliminary assessments by the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, at least 20 people have died and 320 others injured , figures expected to climb as emergency crews access isolated mountain communities. A major landslide in the Tashkurgan Valley, near the epicenter, temporarily blocked the critical Mazar-i-Sharif highway, severely hampering early rescue and relief operations.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued an Orange Alert, its second-highest warning level for the quake, indicating a high likelihood of “significant casualties and widespread damage.” Shaking from the earthquake was felt across northern Afghanistan and into neighboring regions, disrupting power lines and vital infrastructure.
Hundreds of families now face urgent needs: medical care, clean water, shelter, and food. With winter approaching, the lack of adequate housing poses a life-threatening risk for displaced communities.
Iconic Blue Mosque Suffers Damage in Cultural Tragedy
Among the most poignant losses is the damage to the Blue Mosque (Shrine of Hazrat Ali) in Mazar-i-Sharif. This 15th-century architectural treasure renowned for its dazzling azure tilework and spiritual significance to millions is a symbol of Afghan heritage and resilience.
Footage from journalists on the ground and eyewitnesses on social media shows pieces of a minaret broken off and scattered across the courtyard. While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, conservation experts warn that even minor structural shifts could threaten the integrity of the centuries-old monument.
The mosque’s partial damage has deeply shaken local residents, many of whom view it not just as a religious site but as a national emblem of identity and continuity during decades of conflict.
Emergency Response Mobilizes Amid Limited Resources
Despite severe constraints, Afghan authorities have launched a coordinated emergency response. The Ministry of Defence has deployed military rescue teams to conduct search-and-rescue operations, evacuate the injured, and deliver aid to affected families. The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) is also on the front lines, distributing emergency supplies and setting up temporary medical stations.
However, local responders are operating with limited equipment, personnel, and transport, a stark reality in a country where basic infrastructure remains fragile. “People are sleeping outside in fear of aftershocks,” one Mazar-i-Sharif resident told reporters, describing scenes of chaos and grief as families dig through debris with bare hands in search of loved ones.
International Aid Agencies Rush to Assist
The United Nations and multiple international humanitarian organizations have activated emergency protocols. Relief convoys loaded with medical kits, tents, blankets, and clean water are en route to affected villages, though blocked roads and rugged terrain continue to slow delivery.
UN officials have expressed deep concern over the compounding effects of recurring disasters in Afghanistan. “Every disaster deepens the humanitarian crisis,” said a UN spokesperson. “With economic hardship, restricted access to global financial systems, and mass displacement, communities here have little buffer against shocks like this.”
The agency is calling on the international community to provide sustained, long-term support not just for immediate relief, but for rebuilding efforts that prioritize disaster-resilient infrastructure.
A Nation Repeatedly Tested by Earthquakes
Afghanistan sits at the volatile junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Over the past two years alone, deadly quakes have struck Herat, Badghis, and now Balkh each time leaving thousands homeless and straining overstretched emergency systems.
Experts emphasize that most buildings in rural Afghanistan are not earthquake-resistant, constructed from mud brick or unreinforced masonry that easily crumbles during strong tremors. Without investment in early warning systems, public education, and resilient construction, future disasters will continue to exact a heavy human cost.
“This isn’t just about responding to the next earthquake, it’s about preparing for it,” said a regional disaster risk reduction specialist. “Afghanistan needs technical support, funding, and policy reforms to break this cycle of destruction.”
Stories of Resilience and Hope
Amid the devastation, acts of courage and solidarity are emerging. Local volunteers, shopkeepers, and community leaders are organizing impromptu rescue efforts, sharing food and blankets, and guiding emergency teams to hard-hit neighborhoods. In one village near Samangan, neighbors formed a human chain to clear debris from a collapsed school, ultimately saving three children.
International relief organizations are scaling up their operations, with medical teams from neighboring countries preparing to deploy. Social media campaigns are also helping raise global awareness and channel donations to verified aid channels.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding with Resilience
As Afghanistan mourns its dead and tends to the injured, the path to recovery will be long and arduous. But this tragedy also presents a critical opportunity: to rebuild not just homes, but systems that protect lives in the future.
Key priorities include:
- Retrofitting public buildings and homes to withstand seismic activity
- Training community-based emergency response teams
- Integrating disaster risk reduction into national and local planning
- Preserving and restoring cultural heritage sites with seismic-safe techniques
For now, the focus remains on saving lives and delivering urgent aid. But as the world watches, the message from northern Afghanistan is clear: resilience is born not just from survival, but from solidarity.
The Afghan people have endured decades of conflict, displacement, and natural disaster. Once again, they face ruin but also, the unwavering hope of rebuilding, together.
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