A powerful earthquake struck northern Afghanistan today, with the tremors felt as far away as India and Pakistan, where one girl was killed and several others injured.
The quake hit near Afghanistan’s northern border with Tajikistan in the Hindu Kush mountains at a depth of 191 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.
The epicentre was in Jurm district of Afghanistan’s Badakhshan Province, Tolo News reported.
In Kabul, at least two heavy tremors were felt – which sent people running out on the streets.
Three persons were injured in Afghanistan’s Jurm district, an official said.
Jurm is the same area which was the centre a devastating 7.5 magnitude quake in October 2015 that triggered landslides and flattened buildings, killing more than 380 people across the region, AFP news agency said.
Across the border in Pakistan, homes, offices and schools were quickly evacuated in Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore. Mild tremors were also felt in New Delhi.
In Pakistan’s Quetta town, one girl was killed after the roof of her house collapsed during the earthquake. Tremors were felt in villages in the Balochistan province also felt the tremors.
Deputy Commissioner Shabir Mengal said the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. “Emergency has been declared in all hospitals,” he said.
At least ten people were injured in Khyber Pakhtuhwa in earthquake-related incidents, Geo news reported.
Rescue teams were also dispatched to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to assess reports of damage. A school building collapsed in Peshawar and several children are feared to be injured.
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority did not expect serious losses, a spokesman said.
Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
Pakistan is also among the most earthquake-prone regions of the world with high vulnerability to earthquakes as the country lies in the same junction.
In October 2005, a high intensity earthquake measuring 7.4 magnitude hit parts of Pakistan, killing over 80,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands others homeless. (PTI)