A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar-e Sharif, one of the country’s largest cities, at approximately 20:30 GMT (01:00 local time). The quake, which occurred at a depth of 28km (17 miles), was reported by the US Geological Survey, which also issued warnings of ‘significant casualties’ and a ‘potentially widespread’ disaster. Mazar-e Sharif, home to over 500,000 people, experienced widespread panic as residents fled their homes, fearing structural collapses. According to AFP, many rushed into the streets as the ground shook. A Taliban spokesman in Balkh, the province where Mazar-e Sharif is the capital, posted on X around 02:00 local time (21:30 GMT), stating that they had received reports of ‘minor injuries and superficial damages’ across all districts of the province. He noted that most injuries resulted from people falling from tall buildings. The spokesman also shared a video on X showing debris scattered around the Blue Mosque, a significant local landmark and religious site believed to house the tomb of the first Shia Imam. The mosque is a gathering place for pilgrims and religious celebrations. This earthquake follows a 6.0 magnitude quake in Afghanistan’s eastern region in late August, which claimed over 1,000 lives. Afghanistan’s susceptibility to earthquakes is attributed to its location on multiple fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge.