2025 North Afghanistan Earthquake

The 2025 Northern Afghanistan Earthquake was a magnitude 6.3 tremor that occurred on 3 November 2025 in the northern part of the country. The epicenter was located along the boundary between the Hulm district of Balkh Province and Samangan Province. The earthquake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 28 kilometers, caused widespread destruction in numerous settlements in northern Afghanistan, beginning with the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 00:59 local time on the night of 2 November transitioning to 3 November. The epicenter was identified in an area approximately 22 kilometers west-southwest of Mazar-i-Sharif, near the town of Hulm. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers below the surface. Following the event, the USGS issued an “orange alert.”

The most severely affected areas included Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces. Statements by the Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority and the Afghan Red Crescent indicated that the heaviest damage occurred in Samangan and Balkh provinces. Casualties and structural damage were recorded in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Balkh Province spokesperson Haji Zaid confirmed that part of the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif had sustained damage.

Power outages followed the earthquake. The National Electricity Company of Afghanistan (Da Afghanistan Breshna Company) announced temporary power cuts across the country. The main highway connecting the capital Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif, which passes through a mountainous region, was temporarily closed due to a rockfall but was later reopened to traffic.

In its initial statement, the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority reported five deaths and 143 injuries. In subsequent hours, Dr. Sherafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, stated that the death toll had risen to 20 and the number of injured had reached 320, but noted that these figures could increase as rescue teams reached remote areas. According to the Afghan Red Crescent, as of 4 November, the number of fatalities had reached 27 and the number of injured had risen to 956. A total of 1,037 homes were destroyed in the earthquake.

The Taliban administration’s Ministry of Defense announced that rescue and emergency aid teams had reached affected areas in Balkh and Samangan provinces. Efforts have begun to transport the injured, distribute relief supplies and provide shelter support. All hospitals in the country have been placed on emergency standby to treat the injured.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced that it had begun assessing needs and distributing emergency aid in the affected regions. In a social media statement, the organization said, “We stand in solidarity with affected communities and will provide the necessary support.”