Afghanistan, Nov 03 : Afghanistan was jolted by a powerful second earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale early Monday, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported. The quake, which struck at a depth of 23 kilometres, has raised fears of multiple casualties and widespread damage across northern regions of the country.
According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at 01:59:02 IST with its epicentre located at 36.51°N latitude and 67.50°E longitude, near Mazar-i-Sharif and the town of Khulm in Balkh province. Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s most populated northern cities, experienced intense tremors that sent residents rushing out of their homes.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the shaking could result in hundreds of fatalities. Its PAGER system issued an orange alert, warning that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority confirmed that several provinces were impacted by the tremors around 1 a.m. local time. Tremors were also reportedly felt in parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, according to CNN.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and destruction. Rahima, a former schoolteacher in Mazar-i-Sharif, said her family “woke up terrified” as the quake hit. “My children ran down the stairs screaming. Windows shattered and the plaster on our walls cracked,” she told CNN.
Earlier on Sunday, a 3.9-magnitude earthquake had struck Afghanistan at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, further heightening concerns of aftershocks.
Experts warn that shallow earthquakes like these tend to be more destructive as seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, leading to stronger ground shaking and higher risk of casualties.
Authorities are currently assessing the full extent of the damage and have urged residents in the affected areas to remain alert as aftershocks continue.