Kabul, Nov 03 (V7N)- A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, killing at least seven people and injuring 150 others, according to the country’s health ministry, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Rescue operations are currently underway, and authorities fear the death toll may rise further as more reports come in from remote areas.

Samim Joanda, a spokesperson for the Public Health Ministry in the mountainous northern province of Samangan, told Reuters that as of Monday morning, hospital records indicated 150 people had been injured and seven had died. All victims have been transferred to local health facilities for treatment.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake struck the Kholam area, near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, at 12:59 a.m. local time. The quake originated at a depth of 28 kilometers, sending residents rushing into the streets in panic during the night.

Earlier, on August 31, Afghanistan experienced one of its deadliest earthquakes in recent history, when a magnitude 6.0 quake killed more than 2,200 people.

According to Brian Bappett, a seismologist at the British Geological Survey, 12 earthquakes measuring over 7.0 on the Richter scale have struck northeastern Afghanistan since 1900, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity.

END/SMA/AJ