(MENAFN) A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck northern Afghanistan in the early hours of Monday, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and hundreds of injuries, according to reports. The tremor hit around 1 a.m. local time (2030 GMT Sunday).

Most of the casualties were reported in the Samangan and Balkh provinces. Rescue teams have been deployed to search for survivors amid ongoing recovery efforts.

Dr. Sharafat Zaman, a Health Ministry spokesperson, confirmed that the death toll reached 14, with more than 380 people injured across the affected regions. Officials noted that Samangan bore the brunt of the quake, with 260 injuries and 10 confirmed deaths. In the provincial capital of Balkh, Mazar-e-Sharif, authorities reported 126 injuries and four fatalities.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s largest urban centers.

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