Afghanistan earthquake death toll climbs to 27, hundreds wounded

At least 27 people were killed and hundreds of others wounded after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan at around 1 am local time on Monday (2030GMT Sunday), officials said.

The quake struck several northern provinces, including Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, Baghlan, and Kunduz, also injuring 730 people, official Bakhtar News reported.

Most of the casualties were reported in northern Samangan and Balkh provinces.

The earthquake caused "severe human casualties and heavy financial losses," according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

Search and rescue operations are going on to look for survivors.

The provincial capital of Balkh, Mazar-e-Sharif, also reported casualties as well as damage to property.

Historic Rawza Mubarak also suffered some damage.

Damages have also been reported in the northwestern Baghlan province, according to officials.

Some 800 houses were partially destroyed in Chogani village of Shahr-e-Bozorg district of Badakhshan province.

The quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of the country's largest cities, the US Geological Survey said.

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