Northern Afghanistan quake kills 27 as winter complicates rescue
“A 6.3 quake near Mazar-i-Sharif killed at least 27 and injured nearly 1,000, wrecking homes and damaging the Blue Mosque.”
Key points
- A 6.3 quake near Mazar-i-Sharif killed at least 27 and injured nearly 1,000, wrecking homes and damaging the Blue Mosque.
- Relief work is slowed by weak infrastructure as freezing conditions approach.
Residents in northern Afghanistan were sifting through debris on Tuesday after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake destroyed hundreds of homes and left at least 27 people dead and nearly 1,000 injured, authorities said.
The tremor struck near Mazar-i-Sharif and damaged the city's historic Blue Mosque. Officials warned that the toll could rise as assessments continue in remote districts where access is difficult.
Aid groups reported that poor road links and fragile infrastructure are hampering relief operations. With winter setting in and temperatures dipping below freezing, humanitarian agencies fear additional hardship for displaced families.
Afghanistan's disaster authority said hundreds of houses were either fully or partially damaged, while international organisations and neighbouring countries signalled support. China and the United Nations offered assistance as emergency teams mobilised in the region.
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