At least 13 people have been killed and more than 200 injured after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook large parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The quake damaged buildings, triggered landslides, and sent people running into the streets last evening.
According to reports , 9 people were killed in Pakistan while 4 people were killed in Afghanistan. The casualties may rise according to reports as the earthquake was felt in most parts of Afghanistan as well as large parts of Pakistan.
The affected countries include India, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Strong tremors were felt in North India including Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The tremor was very deep, 194 km (120.5 miles), and its epicentre was in the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the remote northern Afghan province of Badakhshan.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the quake was of magnitude 6.8, whereas the USGS put the magnitude at 6.5.
Rescue 1122 said landslides damaged a cattle farm in Yasin Ghizer, resulting in the death of livestock.
Videos from Islamabad show panic-stricken people, especially those living in high-rises, rushing out of their homes while reciting Kalma Tayyaba.
Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel directed officials to put Poly Clinic and Pims hospitals on high alert. He asked the hospitals’ administration to prepare themselves to deal with any emergency.