At least 24 people were killed after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early on Monday, according to local authorities.
The quake also triggered landslides, destroyed homes, and blocked key transport routes.
With the epicenter located in Khulm area in Samangan province, the tremor caused severe damages across five provinces including Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Baghlan, and Kunduz.
The mountainous areas in Samangan, located between the capital city of Kabul and the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, are one of the hardest-hit regions, where most houses are low-rise mud-brick structures. A number of the homes were destroyed or severely damaged, leaving many residents buried under the rubble.
Gulabuddin, a local there, lost his home and daughter-in-law in the earthquake.
"Around 01:00, the earthquake occurred and it was extremely strong. I got out, but my daughter-in-law had died here. She was pregnant. They just got married ten months ago, and she lost her life here. Everything has been destroyed. I have nowhere to go, and I don't have the means to rebuild the house," said Gulabuddin.
Footage taken by reporters from the China Media Group (CMG) showed large boulders and debris strewn across the highway connecting Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif following landslides triggered by the quake. Several vehicles were crushed, and travelers were stranded as multiple road segments became impassable.
A spokesman of the Afghan Ministry of Public Health said that emergency medical teams have reached the affected zones, and hospitals across the region have been placed on high alert to treat the injured.
"When the earthquake struck, I fell down the stairs from the second floor and landed on the ground floor," said Noor Mohammad, a quake survivor who received treatment at a local hospital.
Afghanistan lies near the collision zone of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically-active regions in the world.
On Aug 31 this year, Afghanistan was hit by a 6.0-magnitude earthquake at a depth of eight kilometers in its eastern parts. The shallow depth and rugged mountainous terrain contributed to catastrophic destruction, leaving more than 2,200 people dead and widespread devastation across the region.
A series of powerful tremors in October 2023 also devastated the northwest, leaving thousands dead.
At least 24 killed after magnitude-6.4 earthquake hits northern Afghanistan
At least 24 killed after magnitude-6.4 earthquake hits northern Afghanistan
