Earthquake in northern Afghanistan kills 24

An earthquake in northern Afghanistan has left 24 people dead and more than 630 injured, most of them with minor injuries, Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said on Monday.



The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Khulm area. The quake had a magnitude of 6.3 and occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers. The affected areas included the provinces of Balkh, Samangan, Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Jawzjan.



The Afghan government has launched rescue operations.



Rescue teams cleared and reopened several main roads, rescuing some residents who had been trapped by road blocks.



Officials from Badakhshan province reported that about 800 houses were damaged by the earthquake.



In addition, the famous Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif was damaged, with parts of its structure peeling off. Built in the 12th century, the mosque is an important religious and cultural landmark in northern Afghanistan.