Survivors of a powerful Afghanistan that turned homes into rubble are now wondering where they can find shelter from the pouring rain and the coming winter cold.

Here is a look at why the war-shattered South Asian country experiences frequent tremors, and how their impact can be reduced.

A 6.3-magnitude quake near Mazar-e Sharif exposed Afghanistans seismic threat. Experts explained how the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates causes deadly, frequent tremors.

At least 20 people died and 643 others were injured after the tremors, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said

Hemmed in by rugged mountains, Afghanistan is prone to a range of natural disasters, but its earthquakes cause the most fatalities, killing about 560 people on average each year and causing annual damages estimated at $80 million. Studies indicate at least 355 earthquakes with a magnitude higher than 5.0 have hit Afghanistan since 1990.

Several countries as well as the European Union, have offered their condolences after a powerful earthquake, struck northern Afghanistan, killing 20 people and injuring hundreds, according to official reports.

The earthquake hit northern Afghanistan at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) in Khulm, near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.