Experts fear “significant casualties” after an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude struck near the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on November 3, just two months ago a deadly and devastating quake rocked the eastern part of the country.
The US Geological Survey said its models indicated that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread” around the city of some 523,000 people.
Social media posts displayed videos of what were said to be rescue efforts attempting to help people trapped under ruins following the November 2 tremblor. The videos could not immediately be independently verified.
Amid early reports, regional health officials said at least 10 people were dead and some 260 injured. The Taliban authorities said they would provide more details of casualties and damage “later,” adding that portions of Balkh and Samangan Provinces appeared to be the worst hit.
An official in Mazar-e Sharif said the Blue Mosque in had been damaged in the quake.
A journalist from AFP reported that parts of the 15th century mosque, one of the country’s few tourist sites, particularly from one of its minarets, had broken off and lay scattered across the mosque’s grounds.
The latest quake follows a magnitude 4.9 temblor that hit Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on November 1. Casualties and damages from that incident are not yet clear.
In August, a major earthquake killed more than 2,000 people as authorities in the impoverished, war-ravaged nation pleaded with countries to send aid.
Most international aid efforts to the country were disrupted after the hard-line Taliban extremists seized power in August 2021.
Deadly earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, with poor construction and infrastructure assets often hampering rescue efforts.
AFP quoted Brian Baptie, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, as saying that since 1900, northeastern Afghanistan has been hit by 1at least 12 quakes with a magnitude above 7.
The Taliban rulers have remained mostly isolated in the global community.
Russia is the only country that officially recognizes the Taliban as the country’s government, although the rulers have made attempts over the past year to reengage with the rest of the world.
Western nations have accused the Taliban of major human rights violations, especially against girls and women. They have predicated potential diplomatic ties on an improved rights situation.
The Taliban also faces an armed border conflict with much more-powerful Pakistan, with peace negotiations having mainly broken down.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have held talks in Istanbul aimed at securing peace after more than 70 people were killed last month in border clashes.
The recent violence, which also wounded hundreds of people, has been the worst since the Taliban seized in 2021.
The Taliban also are struggling to battle against domestic terrorist groups and endemic poverty.
