A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals and injuring over 500, according to a health official. The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was located 22 kilometers west-southwest of Khulm, occurring at 12:59 AM local time at a depth of 28 kilometers. Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, noted that while 534 injured persons and 20 deceased bodies have been transported to hospitals in Balkh and Samangan provinces, the casualty figures may continue to rise as rescue operations progress. In Badakhshan province, significant structural damage has been reported, with approximately 800 houses affected in a single village. However, accurate casualty assessments remain difficult due to disrupted internet services in the remote areas. Yousaf Hammad, spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, indicated that most injuries were minor and treated promptly. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that rescue teams have reached the most severely impacted areas to assist those in need, although a rockslide temporarily obstructed a major highway linking Kabul with Mazar-i-Sharif before being cleared.
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