Powerful Afghanistan earthquake leaves 20 dead and reportedly damages famous Blue Mosque

Northern provinces of Balkh and Samangan worst hit by magnitude 6.3 quake with hundreds injured, while Mazar-i-Sharif's Blue Mosque reportedly affected

A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan overnight has killed more than 20 people and injured about 320, the health ministry said on Monday.

The preliminary tolls of deaths and injuries were recorded in the Balkh and Samangan provinces, which have suffered most of the damage, a ministry spokesperson, Sharafat Zaman, said in a video message shared with journalists.