Devastating 6.3 Earthquake Shakes Afghanistan: 20 Lives Lost in Tragic Disaster

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A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on Monday, killing at least 20 people, injuring hundreds and damaging the city’s historic Blue Mosque, authorities said, with the death toll likely to rise.

At least 20 people were killed and 643 were injured, 25 of them seriously, according to preliminary figures from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority.

Afghanistan’s location on two active fault lines makes it particularly susceptible to earthquakes, which can result in significant destruction.

In a move to rekindle relations with the Taliban after cutting diplomatic ties post their 2021 takeover, India has also promised assistance to Afghanistan.

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said in a post on social media platform X it was on the ground supporting rescue efforts.

Save The Children, an aid organization, highlighted that the recent earthquake exacerbates the country’s humanitarian challenges, especially as it approaches winter when temperatures can plummet below freezing.

The Blue Mosque, a revered site in Afghanistan believed to house the remains of the Prophet Mohammad’s cousin and son-in-law, sustained damage during the quake, according to Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid.

In Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, the historic Blue Mosque suffered damage following a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake on Monday, November 3, 2025. Source: AAP / Sirat Noori / AP

The earthquake damaged part of the Blue Mosque, considered one of the holiest sites in Afghanistan and believed to be the burial site of the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad, Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid said.

Damage is seen in the historic Blue Mosque after a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Source: AAP / Sirat Noori / AP

The current structure was built in the 15th century.