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SITUATION OVERVIEW
In the early hours of 3 November, a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake ripped through northern Afghanistan, shaking communities from Balkh to Samangan as families slept. The epicentre was located between Khulm (Samangan) and Mazar-e-Sharif (Balkh) – close enough to the region’s largest northern city to trigger panic across neighbourhoods. The quake was felt as far as Kabul, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, forcing thousands of families to flee their homes into the freezing night.
At least 25 people (12 in Balkh, 12 in Samangan, and 1 in Sar-e-Pul) are confirmed dead and nearly 1,000 injured – with caseloads expected to rise as remote communities become reachable. According to USGS PAGER, up to 110,000 people were exposed to very strong shaking1.
Early assessments indicate nearly 800 homes destroyed or damaged (305 destroyed, 490 damaged) across Samangan and Balkh. An overflight by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation confirmed no large-scale structural collapse, though minor landslides and rockfalls were observed near Feroz Nakhchir. Roads remain largely passable, and water systems appear functional. The most affected districts are Feroz Nakhchir, Khulm and Hazrat Sultan in Samangan and Sholgara and Marmul in Balkh.2 Overall, the most-affected districts are Feroz Nakhchir, Khulm and Hazrat Sultan in Samangan Province and Sholgara and Marmul in Balkh Province.
UNICEF and partners have completed rapid multi-sector assessments across 26 communities. Initial findings confirm significant disruption to education: 91 education facilities have been affected (48 public schools and 43 community-based education classes), further worsening access to learning in an already underserved region.
Preliminary Multi-Sectoral Rapid Assessment Framework (MSRAF) data from the affected areas in Samangan and Balkh also point to serious WASH challenges. Across the 26 communities assessed, 18 water sources have been damaged; 9 communities reported insufficient water quantity, and another 9 communities reported poor water quality. Open defecation is widespread, practiced in 14 communities, while 11 communities have no access to latrines. Access to basic hygiene is extremely limited: 24 communities lack access to soap, and 15 do not have functional handwashing facilities.