Copyright pajhwok
KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 20 people have been killed and 320 others injured after a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan overnight. The quake, with its epicenter in Khulm district of Balkh province, occurred around 1:00 a.m. local time and was also felt in Kabul, Baghlan, Samangan, Sar-i-Pul and Kunduz provinces. According to local sources, the heaviest casualties and damage were reported in Samangan and Balkh provinces. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to search for survivors and assist those in need. Dr. Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said preliminary reports indicate that more than 20 people have been killed and 320 injured in Samangan province. The victims have been transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment. He added that rescue operations are ongoing and that the death toll may rise as more information becomes available. Medical teams have reached the area, and the ministry has ordered all nearby hospitals to remain on high alert. Meanwhile, Kamal Khan Zadran, spokesperson for Balkh Regional Hospital, reported that three bodies and 110 injured people have been transferred to the Abu Ali Sina Balkhi Hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif. In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that rescue teams and emergency units from the 209th Al-Fath Army Corps have arrived at the affected areas and begun rescue operations, evacuation of the injured, and support for affected families.
