Key Takeaways
- 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes Afghanistan, prompting warnings of ‘significant casualties’
- USGS issues orange alert, indicating potential for widespread disaster requiring regional response
- Tremors felt across multiple Central Asian countries bordering Afghanistan
A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake rattled Afghanistan on Monday morning, with authorities warning that significant casualties are likely. The tremors struck mere hours after a smaller quake had already left the Hindu Kush region vulnerable to aftershocks.
USGS Issues High-Level Alert
The US Geological Survey has issued an orange alert for the region, signaling the potential for a widespread disaster. “Significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response,” USGS warned through its PAGER system for predicting economic and human loss after earthquakes.
Recent Earthquake History
This latest seismic event comes just weeks after a devastating magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border on August 31, killing more than 2,200 people and displacing thousands. According to Taliban government data, another 6.3 magnitude earthquake in October 2023, followed by strong aftershocks, left at least 4,000 people dead.
Regional Impact
The earthquake was felt across parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan—three countries bordering northern Afghanistan, indicating the tremor’s significant reach.
Rescue Efforts Underway
Videos showing rescue operations to save people trapped under rubble and images of collapsed buildings have circulated on social media platform X, though these could not be immediately verified. The Afghan Red Crescent Society reported that more than 1,000 people died after an earthquake hit Afghanistan in August, highlighting the region’s continued vulnerability to seismic disasters.
