Kathmandu. At least 12 people have been killed after a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-e-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities. Hundreds of people were injured, according to the country’s disaster management authority.

The quake struck near the town of Mazar-e-Sharif at a depth of 28 kilometres, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. Mazar-e-Sharif is the capital of Balkh province and one of the most populous cities in northern Afghanistan.

The Blue Mosque (Blue Mask) in Mazar-e-Sharif was also badly damaged by the earthquake. This mosque is a treasure trove of architecture in Afghanistan and a major pilgrimage site.

Social media footage, which was geolocated by CNN, showed debris strewn on the ground outside the mosque. This place is considered to be the resting place of Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad.

According to the USGS, the quake was also felt in three countries bordering northern Afghanistan — Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.