A powerful earthquake has struck Mazar-e-Sharif, a city in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 260, according to relevant authorities in the country. The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, hit near Mazar-e-Sharif, a city with a population of 523,000 people. The Defense Ministry of the Taliban, which currently rules Afghanistan, stated that the earthquake has caused significant damage to the area.
The ministry issued a statement saying that rescue operations began immediately after the earthquake. A health ministry official told Reuters that the death toll is likely to increase as rescue efforts continue in the affected area. The official also mentioned that all hospitals in the region have been placed on high alert.
Last August, Afghanistan was also hit by a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people.
