Afghanistan earthquake: At least 20 die and 300 more injured as devastating tremor hits

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 20 people after hitting parts of northern Afghanistan during the early hours of Monday morning. Local officials are reporting that more than 300 people have been injured in the natural disaster. The epicentre was close to the town of Khulm in the Hindu Kush region, with houses and buildings scattered across rural areas being torn down as rescue workers have warned the toll could rise as they scramble to reach many of the remote towns.

Power cuts and landslides were reported on some mountain roads leading to the villages, causing mounting challenges for relief workers heading to the worst-hit areas. The earthquake is thought to have come from around 28 kilometres under the ground, with the U.S. Geological Survey recording the 6.3 magnitude shock and issuing an alert saying "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread."

The tremor was felt across much of northern Afghanistan early in the morning, with reports that it even reached the capital of Kabul.

Footage taken from the scene shows homes torn to the ground and people scrambling to try to rescue family and friends trapped in the rubble.

Rescue workers, the Taliban-run health ministry and local volunteers were mobilised to clear rubble and transport the injured to hospitals.

Health Ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman said: "Our rescue and health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby by the leadership to treat the injured."

Most of the injured suffered minor wounds, with many having already been discharged, according to Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan's disaster management agency.

The United Nations is on the ground providing relief to many of those affected. The agency posted on X that the disaster came just weeks after a separate earthquake killed people in eastern Afghanistan.

They added:"We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support."

Authorities have also urged residents in affected areas to stay in open spaces over fears of aftershocks.

The earthquake is also thought to have damaged part of the Blue Mosque, a 15th-century holy site that is believed to be the burial site of the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad.

Afghanistan has battled a series of devastating earthquakes in recent years as the country lies across two active fault lines.

On August 31, more than 2,200 people died after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake, while two years before, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake and its severe aftershocks killed 4,000, according to the Taliban government.