At least 20 people have died and hundreds injured after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, local authorities report, with casualties expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.

The quake struck near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities with a population of around 500,000, at approximately 01:00 local time on Monday (20:30 GMT Sunday). According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 28km (17 miles) and was rated at the orange alert level, indicating significant casualties were likely.

The Taliban-run health ministry reported more than 530 injuries, while provincial officials warned that the toll could climb as rescue operations proceed.

Haji Zaid, a Taliban spokesman in Balkh province, said many were injured in the Sholgara district, south of Mazar-e-Sharif, mostly from falls in buildings. He added that minor injuries and superficial damages were reported across other districts.

AFP reported that residents of Mazar-e-Sharif fled into the streets, fearing building collapses. The earthquake also caused a power outage nationwide, including in Kabul, after electricity lines from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were damaged.

The quake affected historic sites as well, including the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, a 15th-century Shia pilgrimage site. Taliban spokesman Khalid Zadran said police in Kabul were closely monitoring the situation. Fatalities were also reported in Samangan, a mountainous province near Mazar-e-Sharif.

This earthquake follows a 6.0-magnitude quake in eastern Afghanistan in late August, which killed more than 1,100 people. Many rural homes in the country are not built to withstand earthquakes, and Afghanistan’s location at the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates makes it highly earthquake-prone.

Poor infrastructure and communication networks have historically hindered rescue operations, compounding the impact of disasters like this.