Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Strikes Northern Afghanistan, Causing Casualties and Damage to the “Blue Mosque” | WPN World People News

Earthquake-prone Afghanistan was struck once again by a powerful magnitude 6.3 quake around 4:30 a.m. Taiwan time today (Nov. 3). The quake struck at a depth of about 28 kilometers, and tremors were felt in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. Because the earthquake occurred just after midnight in a remote area, the death toll has already exceeded 20, with more than 300 injured — numbers that continue to rise. The famous Blue Mosque was also damaged.

Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city with a population of about 520,000, was among the affected areas. The city’s iconic landmark, the Blue Mosque, suffered damage in the quake. The mosque’s floor was covered with fallen debris, but fortunately, the main structure appeared largely intact. The mosque is a sacred Sunni Muslim site believed to be the burial place of Ali, the fourth caliph. The current structure, completed in the 15th century, is renowned for its vivid blue tiles and intricate design, making it a major pilgrimage destination.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was classified under an “orange alert,” indicating the likelihood of significant casualties and widespread damage. The affected area lies in the Hindu Kush mountain range, along the Eurasian tectonic plate boundary — one of the most seismically active regions in the world. The Afghan government has dispatched military units to assist in relief operations. Earlier this year, in late August, a magnitude 6.0 quake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing nearly 3,000 people and injuring 4,000 more — a grim reminder that the country’s traditional mud and timber buildings are especially vulnerable to earthquakes.