At least 355 earthquakes measuring above magnitude 5.0 have struck Afghanistan since 1990. (File Representational Photo)

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif early Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring around 260 , officials said, as reported by Reuters . The tremor comes just months after a powerful quake and a series of aftershocks in August left more than 2,200 people dead.

Here’s a look at why Afghanistan experiences frequent earthquakes and what can be done to reduce their impact.

Frequent quakes

Hemmed in by rugged mountain ranges, Afghanistan is among the world’s most disaster-prone countries. Earthquakes cause the highest number of fatalities, an average of 560 deaths annually, and result in damages worth about $80 mi

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