A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday morning local time, according to the USGS and local authorities, sparking fears of mass casualties and the need for a response.
“Based on initial information, the magnitude of the earthquake was over 6, and the epicenter was in the Nakhchir district of Samangan province,” Afghanistan’s Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
Samin Joyenda, spokesperson for the health department in northern Samangan, told CBS News that since early morning, at least 150 people have been injured and seven people have died in the earthquake.
Joyenda said the death toll could increase as search and rescue operations progress.
Meanwhile, Haji Zahid, a spokesman for Balkh province, also in the north, shared a video on X that showed people digging with shovels to rescue survivors.
“In Balkh’s Shulgarah district, we have suffered financial losses. Many people have been injured and 4 people have been confirmed dead,” he wrote.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 6.3 at a depth of 28.0 km (about 17 miles) and designated the quake as a “code orange,” indicating the potential for major casualties and economic losses, requiring a nationwide response, the USGS said.
US Geological Survey 
Videos released appear to show the tremor lasting nearly 20 seconds, and the quake was so strong that people felt it in the capital Kabul and other provinces.
The earthquake also caused a landslide on the Samangan-Balkh highway, a key transport route, trapping cars and passengers. Videos shared on social media show massive rocks blocking the road and a truck on fire.
Monday’s earthquake was the last in the region. More than 2,000 people died when an earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan in August. Most of the victims are still living in camps, according to a recent United Nations report.