Northern Afghanistan has been struck by a devastating earthquake, claiming at least 20 lives and leaving over 500 people injured. The magnitude 6.3 quake's epicentre was located in the Khulm region, approximately 22km west-southwest of the town.
According to health officials, the quake hit at 12:59am local time, with a depth of 28km beneath the surface. Rescue efforts are underway, but the numbers of casualties are likely to rise as more information becomes available.
In Balkh and Samangan provinces, where the hardest-hit areas are located, hospitals have been overwhelmed with injured patients. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, reported that 534 people had been brought in with injuries and 20 bodies had been recovered.
Rescuers are working to reach those trapped by the quake, which also caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in one village in Badakhshan province. Ihsanullah Kamgar, a spokesperson for the provincial police headquarters, stated that an estimated 800 houses were damaged or destroyed.
Yousaf Hammad, a spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, said most of those injured had suffered minor wounds and were being discharged from hospitals after treatment.
In Kabul, rescue teams have been deployed to assist in the response efforts. The Ministry of Defence reported that emergency services had reached affected areas in Balkh and Samangan and were transporting injured people to hospital.
According to health officials, the quake hit at 12:59am local time, with a depth of 28km beneath the surface. Rescue efforts are underway, but the numbers of casualties are likely to rise as more information becomes available.
In Balkh and Samangan provinces, where the hardest-hit areas are located, hospitals have been overwhelmed with injured patients. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, reported that 534 people had been brought in with injuries and 20 bodies had been recovered.
Rescuers are working to reach those trapped by the quake, which also caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in one village in Badakhshan province. Ihsanullah Kamgar, a spokesperson for the provincial police headquarters, stated that an estimated 800 houses were damaged or destroyed.
Yousaf Hammad, a spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, said most of those injured had suffered minor wounds and were being discharged from hospitals after treatment.
In Kabul, rescue teams have been deployed to assist in the response efforts. The Ministry of Defence reported that emergency services had reached affected areas in Balkh and Samangan and were transporting injured people to hospital.
oh noooo this is devastating! like 20 lives lost already? and 500 more injured? how did it happen? was there a warning sign? 
the quake was super strong, magnitude 6.3?! that's so intense... I'm thinking of all those people trapped under rubble or stuck in damaged homes... rescue efforts are underway, but what about the ones who can't reach hospitals quickly enough? 
and poor Ihsanullah Kamgar, saying 800 houses were damaged or destroyed... like, how do you even rebuild after something like this?! 
is it true that most of those injured had minor wounds though? so hopefully they'll be okay in the end? 
can we get updates on how the rescue efforts are going and when the situation will improve? 
. It's just heartbreaking to see so many lives lost and people injured in such a devastating way 
. The scale of the damage is massive, with entire villages destroyed and thousands left without homes. I can only imagine how scary it must be for those trapped under the rubble, waiting for rescue teams to reach them 
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. It's a massive undertaking, but with international support and aid pouring in, I'm sure help will arrive soon 
. My thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan right now, and I can only hope that they receive the support and comfort they need during this incredibly tough time 
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like, how many lives are we willing to lose before we take action?! 
. I feel for all those trapped in the rubble and their families waiting to hear from them. Hopefully, rescue teams do a good job and most of the injured people are okay soon 
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. 20 lives lost? 500 injured? that's heartbreaking 
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it's not like we can control the quake itself, right? but what we CAN do is show empathy & support for those affected 
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. At least most of the injuries are minor and people are getting help 
. I hope the rescue teams can do their job quickly and efficiently so these people can get the care they need ASAP 
. And on top of all this, there's a disaster management authority telling us everything is going to be okay... like, how much support do you really have when 20 lives are lost? 
. I'm really worried about the rescue efforts, hope they can get everyone out safely 
. The numbers are pretty devastating though... 20 lives lost and over 500 injured? That's just heartbreaking 
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meanwhile, i'm thinking of all the self-care practices that can help cope with situations like this - meditation, deep breathing exercises, maybe a calming tea 
anyone else feel like taking some time to focus on their own well-being during crisis situations?
. I think we need to see more aid coming in from other countries as well as international organizations. We can't rely solely on our own government for assistance; there needs to be a global response to this crisis 
. We need to see a significant effort from the government, NGOs, and individuals to provide support and resources to those affected by this quake 
i wish they could get there faster! 
and over 500 people injured? that's insane 
! How are they supposed to cope with this? and what about the ones who got trapped under all that rubble? 
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. The number of casualties is likely to rise as more info comes in, so let's keep our fingers crossed that the situation gets better soon 
. I mean, have you seen those drones being used for search and rescue missions? game-changer! 
and what about 3D printing? could it help make some of those destroyed houses rebuildable again? that would be amazing! 
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