Kathmandu, Nov. 3 -- A strong earthquake killed at least nine people in northern Afghanistan, authorities said on Monday, just months after another deadly tremor left the country reeling.

The 6.3-magnitude quake struck overnight at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles) with the epicentre near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, according to the US Geological Survey.

Four people were killed in Balkh province, where Mazar-i-Sharif is the capital, according to Kamal Khan Zadran, a health department spokesman.

He said the provincial hospital was also treating 120 people for injuries.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) spokesman Mohammadullah Hamad said that five people had been killed and 143 wounded in neighbouring Samangan province.

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