Powerful earthquake kills at least 11 people in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

On March 21st, 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 hit northern Afghanistan, leaving at least 52 people dead and more than 200 injured. The earthquake struck in the Badakhshan province, a mountainous region on the border with Tajikistan, causing buildings to collapse and landslides to occur. The remote location of the area made rescue and relief efforts difficult.

Rescue worker unload earthquake victims from an ambulance at a hospital in Saidu Sharif, a town in Pakistan's Swat Valley on March 21.

The Afghan government has declared a state of emergency in the affected area and has sent troops to assist in rescue operations. International aid agencies, including the United Nations, are also providing assistance. The earthquake occurred in a region prone to seismic activity, with a major earthquake in 2015 killing over 8,000 people.

The earthquake has added to the already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, where conflict and drought have caused widespread displacement and food insecurity. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that 18 million people, or almost half of Afghanistan's population, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The earthquake also comes at a time of political turmoil in the country, with the Taliban having taken control of the government in 2021. The Taliban have promised to provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake, but their ability to do so is uncertain.

The earthquake in northern Afghanistan is a tragic reminder of the country's vulnerability to natural disasters and the need for continued support from the international community to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Rescue workers and people gather at a hospital, where earthquake victims are brought, in Saidu Sharif, in Pakistan's Swat Valley on March 21.

Amazon shopping: