Strong 6.3 quake rattles northern Afghanistan, people panic.
A powerful 6.3 earthquake rattled northern Afghanistan, sending residents rushing outdoors, though no immediate damage was reported yet.
Powerful 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Northern Afghanistan; No Immediate Reports of Damage
Kabul, November 3, 2025: A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake jolted northern Afghanistan early Monday, shaking homes and waking residents from their sleep in several provinces. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 12:59 a.m. local time, with its epicentre located about 22 kilometers west-southwest of Khulm, a town in the Balkh province. The tremor occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers beneath the earth’s surface.
In the quiet of the night, the sudden tremor sent shockwaves across northern Afghanistan, including parts of Mazar-i-Sharif and nearby districts. Residents described feeling their beds shake violently and hearing windows rattle for several seconds. Some rushed outdoors, fearing that buildings might collapse. “It felt like the ground was moving under us,” said Ahmadullah, a shopkeeper from Khulm. “We ran into the street, terrified it might be another big one.”
So far, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, but authorities and local rescue teams have begun assessing the situation in remote villages, where communication is often limited. “We are monitoring the situation closely,” said an official from Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority. “Thankfully, initial reports suggest no serious damage, but we will continue to gather information from affected districts.”
The tremor rekindled memories of previous devastating earthquakes that have struck Afghanistan in recent years. On August 31, 2025, a magnitude 6.0 quake hit eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring thousands. Villages were flattened, and rescue operations were hampered by the mountainous terrain and limited infrastructure. Just two years earlier, on October 7, 2023, another 6.3-magnitude earthquake followed by strong aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead in western Herat province, according to the Taliban government.
Those tragedies remain fresh in the minds of many Afghans, who live in one of the most seismically active regions of Asia. The country sits near the boundary of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent and sometimes deadly earthquakes. Poorly built housing and limited emergency services make even moderate tremors dangerous.
As news of the quake spread, humanitarian agencies expressed concern and offered to assist if needed. The United Nations and the International Red Crescent said they were in contact with local authorities to assess the potential impact.
For now, northern Afghanistan appears to have been spared major destruction. Still, the quake serves as another stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability — and the resilience of its people, who continue to live with uncertainty, bracing for what nature might bring next.