Afghanistan earthquake in Hindu Kush felt across Pakistan, officials report no damage

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northeast Afghanistan, with the epicentre in the Hindu Kush region, according to the United States Geological Survey. Pakistan’s Meteorological Department recorded a similar magnitude and said tremors were felt in several cities, including Islamabad and Lahore. Provincial authorities reported no immediate casualties or damage and began building inspections.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit northeast Afghanistan on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey USGS. Shaking spread into neighbouring Pakistan, and tremors were also felt in parts of India. Officials reported no immediate casualties or damage from this quake. Pakistan’s agencies later listed many affected cities and began checks in some areas.

Pakistan’s Meteorological Department PMD put the quake at magnitude 5.9. The PMD said it struck at 6:35 pm local time. The epicentre lay in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region at a depth of 178 km. The USGS located the epicentre 43 km south of the Jurm district in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province.

Afghanistan earthquake tremors felt across Pakistan cities

Tremors were reported across Pakistan in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. Other cities included Mansehra, Shangla and Swat. Residents also felt shaking in Chakwal, Abbottabad and Taxila. Haripur and Buner were also listed among the places where tremors were noticed.

The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority PDMA said the quake was also felt in Lahore. The agency said no damage had been reported so far. The PDMA added that officials in Punjab were inspecting buildings in affected areas. It also said the provincial control room and district emergency centres stayed operational round the clock.

Pakistan earthquake activity in Balochistan reported since Friday

In a separate development, at least five moderate earthquakes struck Pakistan’s southeastern province of Balochistan since Friday. The jolts injured three people and triggered panic, reports said. The quakes ranged between magnitudes 5.2 and 4.3 on the Richter scale. The shaking was felt in remote areas including Rakhni, Kohlu, Musakhail, Kingri and Barkhan.

Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Chief Meteorologist Ameer Haider Leghari said the quakes happened on a fault line. Leghari said the activity could relate to major earthquakes worldwide. Twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 hit Venezuela on June 25. The report said they killed at least 920 and left more than 51,000 missing.

Leghari said the massive earthquake in Venezuela could have released energy to other fault lines. Leghari added that Balochistan sits on a fault line and more jolts were possible. Separately, a Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority official, Ali Ansari, said reports showed five injuries so far. Ali Ansari added that no deaths had been reported.

Ali Ansari said some mud houses collapsed in Musakhail, Kingri and Barkhan. The collapses happened due to the intensity of the quakes, Ali Ansari said. Ali Ansari said teams were sent to affected areas. Ali Ansari added that rescue operations were ongoing in the reported locations.

The PDMA said two labourers were hurt when a shop roof collapsed in Musakhail district. The PDMA also said another man was injured after a house collapsed. The house collapse happened northwest of Musakhail’s Kingri area. Authorities continued checks after the Afghanistan quake, while response teams worked in Balochistan’s affected pockets.

With inputs from PTI