At least 20 people have died after an earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, local authorities say, with the toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue. Hundreds have also been left injured, local officials told the BBC.

Afghanistan's Taliban government says a powerful earthquake in the country's north has killed at least 20 people and left hundreds injured.

Afghan officials say a powerful, 6.3 magnitude earthquake that shook northern Afghanistan overnight killed at least 20 people

A strong earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring hundreds more, though the death toll is expected to rise.

A strong, 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck in Afghanistan on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The temblor happened at 12:59 a.m. Afghanistan time about 14 miles southwest of Khulm, Afghanistan, data from the agency shows.

At least seven people were killed after a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near a northern Afghan city early on Monday. The earthquake hit Kholm near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in Hindu Kush at around 12.

A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 640 others, as well as damaging the historic Blue Mosque, officials said.

Sharif, a northern city known for its magnificent Blue Mosque. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are expected to resume peace talks in Istanbul to revive a dialogue that collapsed earlier this week, according to Pakistan's defense minister, two officials and state media i

A big nexus of large-scale drug smuggling from Afghanistan into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Tirah Valley has been exposed. According to sources, drug mafia and Khawarij, present in Afghanistan, are part of illegal activities and terrorism in Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is due to this "political terror crime nexus".

Taliban officials said the death toll could rise as rescue teams arrive and assess the damage from the quake, which struck near one of Afghanistan’s largest cities.

At least 20 people died and 643 others were injured after the tremors, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said