An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 hit parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, causing residents to flee to the streets in panic, according to eyewitnesses. Pakistan’s Meteorological Department reported the quake on Tuesday, which originated in the remote northern Afghan province of Badakhshan in the Hindu Kush mountain range. The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a slightly lower magnitude of 6.5 and placed the epicentre near the Afghan town of Jurm, 40 kilometres (25 miles) south-southeast, near the borders with Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far, including in Afghanistan where the earthquake’s epicentre was located. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid expressed gratitude on Twitter, stating that all citizens of the country seemed to be safe and health centres across the country had been put on high alert.
The tremors were felt in various Pakistani cities such as Islamabad and Lahore, as well as in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Sarah Hasan, an Islamabad resident, told Al Jazeera that the earthquake started off slowly and then became stronger. Walls vibrated, things shook, and after a few minutes, everything felt calm again.
The tremors were felt in various Pakistani cities such as Islamabad and Lahore, as well as in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Sarah Hasan, an Islamabad resident, told Al Jazeera that the earthquake started off slowly and then became stronger. Walls vibrated, things shook, and after a few minutes, everything felt calm again.
Witnesses also felt the earthquake in Indian-administered Kashmir and in India’s capital, New Delhi. South Asia experiences frequent seismic activity due to the Indian plate pushing north into the Eurasian plate. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed over 1,000 people last year.