• A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, causing extensive casualties.
• As of now, at least 27 people have been confirmed dead, with more than 700 injured.
• The quake’s epicenter was near Mazar-e Sharif, impacting multiple provinces.

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan at around 1 am local time on Monday, resulting in at least 27 confirmed fatalities and injuries to hundreds of others. The quake affected several provinces, including Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, Baghlan, and Kunduz, with the Afghan Red Crescent Society reporting "severe human casualties and heavy financial losses," according to aa.

As authorities continue search and rescue operations, Dr. Sharafat Zaman, spokesman for the Health Ministry, confirmed that the hardest-hit areas were Samangan and Balkh provinces, with significant damage reported in the provincial capital of Mazar-e Sharif. Up to 730 people have sustained injuries from the earthquake, reported aa and africanews.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the earthquake was centered 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) deep, prompting extensive emergency responses including the evacuation of residents from damaged structures. Witnesses from Mazar-e Sharif reported significant panic as residents rushed into the streets amid fears of building collapses, as detailed by indiatimes and lemonde.

In response to the crisis, authorities have mobilized rescue teams to affected areas, while the Taliban government faces the ongoing challenge of handling natural disasters concurrent with humanitarian crises, as reported by reuters and channelnewsasia. Many regions are still recovering from previous earthquakes, with the effects of past disasters compounding the current situation.