At least 27 people were killed and nearly 1,000 others injured after a powerful earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, according to local authorities.

The 6.3-magnitude quake hit near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province on Monday, causing widespread destruction in surrounding villages. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 28 kilometers, with the epicenter located about 22 kilometers east of Hulm, northeast of Mazar-e-Sharif.

Provincial officials said that 956 people were injured, while 1,037 homes were destroyed or severely damaged. Rescue and relief operations are continuing as authorities warn that the death toll could rise further.

Emergency teams have been dispatched to the affected areas, where residents are struggling amid harsh weather conditions and damaged infrastructure.

The disaster comes just two months after another devastating magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 2,200 people and leaving thousands homeless.

Afghanistan, located in one of the world’s most seismically active regions, suffers frequent earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where tectonic plate movements are common.

Authorities have appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance, noting that many of the affected families have lost their homes for the second time within months.(ILKHA)