A 5.3-magnitude tremor rattled central Afghanistan early Monday, leaving eight people dead and injuring 15 others, officials said.

The disaster struck Samangan province and according to Mohammad Sediq Azizi, the spokesman for provincial administration, 300 houses were destroyed or partially damaged.

"The districts of Darai Suf and Ruidoab were badly damaged in the tremor as 300 houses were partially damaged or destroyed rendering hundreds of people homeless," Azizi told Xinhua.

He also added that the earthquake caused landslide which blocked the road connecting Darai Suf to the provincial capital Aybak city.

Abdul Razaq Ailkhani, the provincial police chief of Samangan, in talks with Xinhua said that at least 20 villages were damaged in Darai Suf and Ruidoab districts killing eight persons and wounding 15 others.

He also said that the casualties can be higher, adding a delegation has been sent to the affected areas to assess the situation and casualties inflicted to the life and properties of the locals in the disaster.

Earlier district chief of Darai Suf, Ali Hasani said that one person was killed, five wounded and 10 villages were damaged.

He also added that the affected area is mountainous and it takes more time to conclude the assessment.

The tremor took place at a depth of 10 km at 00:58 local time around 190 km northwest of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.