Kabul: A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing at least seven people and injuring over 100, according to media reports.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued an orange alert using its PAGER system, an automated tool that evaluates the potential impact of earthquakes, warning that significant casualties are likely and the disaster could be widespread.
A tremor occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e Sharif, a city with a population of approximately 523,000, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Videos depicting rescue operations aimed at freeing individuals trapped under debris, along with images of collapsed buildings and scattered rubble, were widely shared on the social media platform X.
On September 23, a 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan, as reported by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. The earthquake’s epicenter was located at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, with coordinates of 34.48 degrees north latitude and 70.71 degrees east longitude.
Since the Taliban took power in 2021, the government has faced several devastating earthquakes. Notably, one in 2023 in the western Herat region, near the Iranian border, resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 people and the destruction of more than 63,000 homes.
Another significant earthquake, a shallow magnitude 6 tremor, occurred in the eastern part of the country on August 31 of this year, claiming the lives of more than 2,200 people. This made it the deadliest earthquake in recent Afghan history.
Afghanistan is situated along the collision zone between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, with additional seismic activity influenced by the Arabian plate to the south. This geographic positioning makes it one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
The country is also facing multiple crises following decades of war, including widespread poverty, severe drought, and the forced return of millions of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran.
According to seismologist Brian Baptie of the British Geological Survey, northeastern Afghanistan has experienced 12 earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7 since 1900. Studies indicate that more than 355 earthquakes greater than magnitude 5.0 have occurred throughout the country since 1990.
Eastern and northeastern Afghanistan, particularly areas bordering Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan, remain the most earthquake-prone regions.
More International News on www.mediaeyenews.com
File photo: Xinhua
–IANS
