Devastating earthquake rocks city where Hungarian soldiers served, updated: photo, map, video
At least 19 people have been killed and hundreds of others injured after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan at around 1 a.m. local time on Monday (2030 GMT Sunday), officials said. The provincial capital of Balkh, Mazar-e-Sharif, also reported casualties as well as damage to property. Hungarian soldiers served in the city on a NATO peacekeeping mission between 2003 and 2021. In 2013, more than 620 Hungarian troops were stationed in the country. According to a recent update, the number of casualties climbed to at least 27.
Devastating earthquake again in one of the world’s poorest countries
Most of the casualties were reported in the northern provinces of Samangan and Balkh, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. It added that the earthquake caused “severe human casualties and heavy financial losses.”
Search and rescue operations are ongoing in an effort to find survivors. Dr Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Health Ministry, said that most of the casualties were reported in Samangan province, according to Anadolu, the Turkish news agency.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing in an effort to find survivors. Dr Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Health Ministry, said that most of the casualties were reported in Samangan province, according to Anadolu, the Turkish news agency wrote.
The provincial capital of Balkh, Mazar-e-Sharif, also reported casualties as well as damage to property. Damage has also been reported in the north-western Baghlan province, officials said.
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8 major earthquakes
The quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometres (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country’s largest cities, according to the US Geological Survey. Authorities have ordered all hospitals to be fully prepared to provide medical services to victims of the earthquake.
Here’s a video of the devastating earth tremor:
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CCTV video footage from the Powerful 6.4 ⚡️Magnitude earthquake that has struck Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush region searching for more video and images. pic.twitter.com/P2Da1YDYHJ
Afghanistan has been struck by at least eight major earthquakes, including the latest one, since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. In August this year, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake shook the eastern Kunar province, killing more than 2,200 people and flattening hundreds of homes and buildings.
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Why is the country so prone to tremors?
According to Reuters, Afghanistan has experienced at least 355 earthquakes measuring over 5.0 in magnitude since 1990. The country lies at the crossroads of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. The Arabian plate also contributes to the area’s geological volatility.
As a consequence, these earthquakes cause around USD 17 million worth of damage each year. While Afghanistan could strengthen its resilience through measures such as retrofitting buildings, implementing early warning systems, and enhancing monitoring capabilities, such efforts would require substantial funding. Under the current Taliban leadership, the country remains one of the world’s poorest, making these necessary investments particularly difficult.
Hungarian soldiers served in the country from 2003 until 2021. Throughout the operation, at least 620 Hungarian soldiers were deployed. Tragically, in 2010, Judit Ábrahám Pappné and György Kolozsvári lost their lives near the city when their convoy was ambushed and attacked by Taliban forces. In total, five Hungarian soldiers died in Afghanistan during the mission.
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