The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

    Strong earthquake hits Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region, 20 injured

    Synopsis

    A powerful magnitude 6 earthquake jolted Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region, with tremors felt across Pakistan. While initial reports from Afghanistan indicated no casualties, Pakistan confirmed over 20 injuries and dozens of damaged homes in Musakhail district. Residents in Swat district described widespread panic as people fled buildings. Pakistan's Prime Minister has ordered an urgent response to aid those affected.

    Listen to this article in summarized format

    Earthquake in AfghanistanANI

    A strong earthquake struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday (File Photo)

    A strong earthquake struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said, sending out tremors that could be felt from the capital Kabul across the border into neighbouring Pakistan.

    There were ‌no immediate ⁠official reports ⁠of casualties or damage from the earthquake, but checks were ongoing, the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.

    The magnitude 6 quake ​occurred at a depth of 100 km (62 miles), EMSC said.


    A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Pakistan earlier on Saturday, according to EMSC.

    Read More: Pakistan Earthquake: Magnitude 5.4 quake strikes India's neighbour again

    More ​than 20 people were injured and ⁠dozens of ‌houses were damaged in different areas of Musakhail ​district in ​Pakistan, the district's deputy commissioner Abdul Razzaq Khajak ⁠told Reuters.

    The disaster management authority in Pakistan's Balochistan ​province said around 125 houses were damaged, adding ​that relief teams were sent to the affected area along with tents and food, solar panels, blankets and other items.

    People ran out of their doors in panic in Swat district in northern Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resident Daniyal Ahmad told ‌Reuters. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

    "It was very huge here in Swat and it lasted ​for quite ​a long time," ⁠he said.

    "People came out of their houses and women and children were seen crying in panic."

    Read More: 3.8 magnitude earthquake hits Nepal, reports National Centre of Seismology

    Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the damage caused and ordered an urgent response from the authorities to help those affected, his office said.

    Add ET Logo as a Reliable and Trusted News Source

    (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

    Explore More Stories

    The Economic Times

    Stories you might be interested in