A 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook parts of the north of the country this morning, including the provinces of Samangan, Balkh and several other cities, including Kabul. The intensity of the earthquake was so strong that it was also felt in neighboring countries. Due to the intensity of the earthquake, the Tashqarghan Strait between Samangan and Balkh provinces has been closed.
Publish dateMonday 3 November 2025 - 09:25
Story Code : 334487
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Mazar-e-Sharif: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) announced that the earthquake occurred at 12:58 a.m. local time, about 35 kilometers southwest of Kholm district, Samangan province, and at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The tremors of the earthquake were also felt strongly in the cities of Aibak, Mazar-e-Sharif, Maimana, Takhar, Kunduz and Sar-e-Pul. Residents of Kabul also reported feeling the tremors in the capital.
The intensity of the earthquake was such that tremors were reported in parts of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Iran and even India.
Balkh-Samangan highway blocked after landslide
Local officials in Samangan province announced that the Balkh-Samangan highway in the Tashgarghan Strait area has been completely blocked following a landslide caused by the earthquake.
The Samangan Provincial Public Works Department confirmed that the road was closed in the Kholam district area and technical teams are working to reopen the road. The head of the department said that machinery and technical forces have been dispatched to the scene of the incident to clear the area.
Officials in the Balkh Provincial Public Works Department have also announced that technical teams and heavy machinery have been dispatched to the scene of the incident to assist in the road reopening and relief operations. They stressed that efforts to clear the highway and ensure the movement of vehicles are ongoing.
Initial reports of possible casualties
Some local sources in Samangan province have reported that a number of passengers have been killed or injured as a result of a rockfall and landslide on the Tashgarghan route. Although there is no exact figure of casualties yet, local witnesses report that several vehicles have been damaged on the highway.
Balkh and Samangan provinces are always at risk of earthquakes due to their location in the Central Asian seismic belt. Experts have warned that due to substandard construction and the vulnerability of road infrastructure, there is a possibility of casualties in future earthquakes.
The tremors of the earthquake were also felt strongly in the cities of Aibak, Mazar-e-Sharif, Maimana, Takhar, Kunduz and Sar-e-Pul. Residents of Kabul also reported feeling the tremors in the capital.
The intensity of the earthquake was such that tremors were reported in parts of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Iran and even India.
Balkh-Samangan highway blocked after landslide
Local officials in Samangan province announced that the Balkh-Samangan highway in the Tashgarghan Strait area has been completely blocked following a landslide caused by the earthquake.
The Samangan Provincial Public Works Department confirmed that the road was closed in the Kholam district area and technical teams are working to reopen the road. The head of the department said that machinery and technical forces have been dispatched to the scene of the incident to clear the area.
Officials in the Balkh Provincial Public Works Department have also announced that technical teams and heavy machinery have been dispatched to the scene of the incident to assist in the road reopening and relief operations. They stressed that efforts to clear the highway and ensure the movement of vehicles are ongoing.
Initial reports of possible casualties
Some local sources in Samangan province have reported that a number of passengers have been killed or injured as a result of a rockfall and landslide on the Tashgarghan route. Although there is no exact figure of casualties yet, local witnesses report that several vehicles have been damaged on the highway.
Balkh and Samangan provinces are always at risk of earthquakes due to their location in the Central Asian seismic belt. Experts have warned that due to substandard construction and the vulnerability of road infrastructure, there is a possibility of casualties in future earthquakes.
avapress.net/vdciv5apyt1ap52.ilct.html
Top hits
