Strong Afghanistan earthquake leaves 20 dead and is said to destroy the famous Blue Mosque | Afghanistan

The Afghan Ministry of Health said on Monday that a strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan overnight, killing more than 20 people and injuring about 320 others.

Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said in a video message shared with journalists that the initial toll of deaths and injuries was recorded in Balkh and Samangan provinces, which suffered most of the damage.

The earthquake also damaged the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, a landmark dating back to the 15th century and famous for its vibrant tiles, according to an Agence France-Presse journalist who witnessed the damage.

The US Geological Survey said that the epicenter of the earthquake was 22 kilometers west-southwest of Kholm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 28 kilometers. The US Geological Survey said the earthquake occurred at 12:59 a.m. local time.

A rescuer searches through the rubble after the recent earthquake in Afghanistan. Photography: Afghan Red Crescent – Reuters

Yousef Hammad, spokesman for the Afghan Disaster Management Agency, said that most of the injured suffered minor injuries and were discharged from hospital after receiving initial treatment.

In Kabul, the Ministry of Defense announced that rescue and emergency aid teams had arrived in the affected areas in Balkh and Samangan provinces and had begun rescue operations, including transporting the injured and assisting affected families.

In Mazar-i-Sharif, footage posted on social media showed that the earthquake caused some damage to the Blue Mosque, with Agence France-Presse reporting that parts of the ornate structure, especially one of its minarets, shattered and fell to the ground.

The Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, was damaged by the recent earthquake that struck the country. Photography: Olivier Mathis/EPA

The centuries-old site is one of Afghanistan's most revered religious monuments and a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals. It is one of the few tourist sites in the country.

The earthquake was felt by residents of the capital, Kabul, and several other provinces in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that rocks falling from the mountains briefly closed the main highway linking Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif, but the road was later reopened. She added that some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were taken to hospital.

Afghanistan has been hit by a series of earthquakes in recent years, and the poor country often has difficulty responding to such natural disasters, especially in remote areas.

Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise buildings, mostly concrete and brick, with houses in rural and remote areas built of mudbrick and wood. Many of them are poorly built.

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake on August 31 in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan killed more than 2,200 people. On October 7, 2023, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake followed by strong aftershocks killed at least 4,000 people, according to the Taliban government.

With the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse

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