Latest news about the Afghanistan earthquake: hundreds killed or injured

Scenes of devastation follow the Afghanistan earthquake

A powerful earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, causing widespread damage and initial reports of at least 20 people killed and more than 640 injured.

These figures came from Qari Taj Muhammad Himmat, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority. Rescuers were responding to the worst-hit areas following the initial 6.3-magnitude earthquake.

According to the USGS, the quake's epicenter was located about 14 miles west-southwest of the town of Kholm, and was relatively shallow, only 17 miles below the surface. The earthquake occurred at 12:59 am local time.

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Survivors of the Afghan earthquake search among the rubble of a damaged house in a village in Tashkurgan, in Kholm district of Samangan province, on November 3, 2025.

(Photo by Atef Arian/AFP via Getty Images)

In neighboring Badakhshan province, the earthquake partially or completely destroyed 800 homes in one village in the Shahr Bozorg district, said Ehsanullah Kamjar, spokesman for the provincial police headquarters. He added that with the lack of Internet in the remote area, there are still no accurate numbers of victims.

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

In the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Ministry of Defense announced that rescue and emergency teams had arrived in the most affected areas of the earthquake in Balkh and Samangan, and were transporting the injured and helping others.

The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, posted on the X website that the earthquake caused casualties and financial losses. He said that government organizations are working to obtain the necessary assistance.

(More: Workers race to save outer banks of their homes)

A destroyed truck along the highway in the photo, following the earthquake that struck Tang Tashkurgan in Kholm District, Samangan Province on November 3, 2025.

(Photo by Atef Arian/AFP via Getty Images)

Afghan officials said residents of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, also felt the quake, as footage posted on social media showed damage to the historic Blue Mosque. Several pieces of brick fell from the walls, but the mosque remained intact. The centuries-old site is one of Afghanistan's most revered religious monuments and a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals.

The earthquake was felt by residents of Kabul and several other provinces. The Defense Ministry said a rockslide briefly closed a main mountain road 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.

The United Nations in Afghanistan said on the X website that Monday's earthquake came just weeks after a deadly earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The United Nations said that its teams are on the ground to assess needs and provide urgent aid.

“We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support,” the post read.

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31 near the border with Pakistan, killing 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.

The poor country often has difficulty responding to such natural disasters, especially in remote areas. Buildings tend to be low-rise construction, mostly concrete and brick, with houses in rural and remote areas built of mud brick and timber, many of them poorly constructed.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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