Earthquake of magnitude 6.3 kills 12, injures 300 in northern Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (KUNA) -- At least 12 people were killed and around 300 others injured in an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 that struck Afghanistan's northern Balkh and Samangan provinces early on Monday, said officials.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake struck the northern provinces at a depth of 28 kilometers.
In a statement, spokesperson for the health department in Samangan province, Samim Joyanda confirmed that at least eight people were killed and around 180 others were wounded in Samangan province.
A local health official in Balkh province, Kamal Khan Zadran, confirmed the death of four people and injury of 300 others in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital of Balkh.
Officials have expressed fear that the toll may rise as rescue efforts are underway in the mountainous region, rescue teams have reached the affected sites, and all the nearby hospitals have been put on standby.
Earlier in August, over 2,200 people were killed and thousands of others were injured in a deadly earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan. (end) sbk.res