20 people died and over 300 were injured after a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan overnight, the country’s health ministry said on Monday (Nov 3). Officials warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams try to reach remote villages cut off by damaged roads and landslides.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson Sharafat Zaman, the quake injured around 320 people and killed more than 20, though this number is still preliminary. Earlier reports had confirmed nine deaths.

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities, at a depth of 28 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.

In Balkh province, where Mazar-i-Sharif is located, four people were killed and over 120 injured, officials said. Hospitals were crowded with patients, though many were later discharged after treatment.

In the neighbouring Samangan province, five people were killed and 143 injured, according to Mohammadullah Hamad from the National Disaster Management Authority. “Most of the injured have returned home after treatment,” he said.

People in Mazar-i-Sharif rushed out of their homes in panic as buildings shook violently. Tremors were also felt in Kabul, about 420 kilometres away. Videos shared online showed the strong shaking that caused widespread fear overnight.

Afghanistan’s earthquake history

This disaster is the latest in a series of deadly earthquakes to hit Afghanistan.

1. In August 2024, a 6.0-magnitude quake in the east killed over 2,200 people.

2. In 2023, strong tremors in Herat left hundreds dead.

3. In 2022, another quake in Nangarhar destroyed thousands of homes.

Poor roads, weak communication networks, and the country’s mountainous terrain make rescue work extremely difficult. Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, especially near the Hindu Kush mountains, where major tectonic plates meet. Weak infrastructure often worsens the damage and increases casualties when strong tremors strike.