At least 20 dead in deadly earthquake in Afghanistan

SAMANGAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NBC, KYMA) - A 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked northern Afghanistan Monday morning.

At least 20 people are dead and more than 300 others injured after the quake, according to the ruling Taliban.

Officials say the death toll could rise as rescue teams arrive and assess the damage.

Quake struck near one of Afghanistan's largest cities, Mazar-i-Sharif, at a depth of around 17 miles just before 1:00 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Afghanistan, which lies along several fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian Plates meet, is especially vulnerable to earthquakes.

The earthquake is the fourth major tremor in Afghanistan since U.S.-led forces withdrew from the country in 2021.