The namesake of Mazar-i-Sharif suffered countless cracks in a 6.3-magnitude quake, but, like Afghanistan, it has endured for centuries.

Survivors of a powerful earthquake in northern Afghanistan are digging through the rubble of their homes after spending a bitterly cold night outdoors.

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 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.

Relations between the two neighbors hit a low point this month, with fighting killing people on both sides of the border. At issue is a rise in militancy in Pakistan since the Taliban took over Afghanistan.

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.

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