In brief
An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, causing significant casualties and damage. Initial reports confirm at least 20 deaths and over 530 injuries as authorities continue rescue efforts. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 28 km, with the Taliban's health ministry indicating potential for increased casualties. As rescue operations progress, the quake's devastating impact on local infrastructure and lives raises concerns about future seismic activities in this earthquake-prone region.
At least 20 people have died after an earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, local authorities say, with the toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Hundreds have also been left injured, local officials told the BBC.
The earthquake struck near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country's largest cities that is home to about 500,000 people, at around 01:00 local time on Monday, (20:30 GMT on Sunday).
It had a magnitude of 6.3 and a depth of 28km (17 miles), according to the US Geological Survey, and was marked at the orange alert level, which indicates 'significant casualties' are likely.
More than 530 people have been injured, according to the Taliban government health ministry.
Provincial officials earlier told the BBC that casualties were likely to rise as rescue efforts continued.
Haji Zaid, a Taliban spokesman in Balkh province wrote earlier on X that 'many people are injured' in the Sholgara district, south of Mazar-e- Sharif.
He said they had received 'reports of minor injuries and superficial damages from all districts of the province'.
'Most of the injuries were caused by people falling from tall buildings,' he wrote.
The quake led to a power outage across the country including in the capital city Kabul, after electricity lines from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan - major suppliers of power to Afghanistan - were damaged.
The Taliban spokesman in Balkh also posted a video on X appearing to show debris strewn across the ground at the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, revered by Shia Muslims.
Numerous fatalities were also reported in Samangan, a mountainous province near Mazar-e-Sharif, according to its spokesman.
The quake on Monday comes after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan's mountainous eastern region in late August, killing more than 1,100 people.
Afghanistan is very prone to earthquakes because of its location on top of a number of fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Poor communication networks and infrastructure - buildings there are not earthquake-resistant, for example - have often hampered rescue efforts following disasters like this.
