Second Major Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan: 6.3 Magnitude Tremor

A second powerful earthquake, registering 6.3 on the Richter scale, has struck Afghanistan. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported the event took place at a depth of 23 km, impacting areas near Mazar-i-Sharif and Khulm. This latest seismic activity occurred around 1 a.m. local time, waking residents in terror. One Mazar-i-Sharif resident described the experience as terrifying, with children screaming and significant damage reported, including shattered windows and wall plaster. The USGS PAGER system has issued an orange alert, warning of widespread disaster and likely significant casualties, potentially necessitating a national response. This strong quake follows an earlier 3.9 magnitude event, which occurred at a shallower depth, making the region more vulnerable to aftershocks. The tremors were also felt across borders in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.