A powerful quake killed at least 12 people in Afghanistan and Pakistan on Wednesday, the strong earthquake was felt across thousands of kilometres causing heavy losses in the area associated with a quake of such magnitude.
A 6.5-magnitude quake was centred near Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan, but the depth earthquake of 187 kilometres (116 miles) caused extensive damage to the environment, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake, which struck around 9:30 pm Kabul time on Tuesday and lasted more than 30 seconds, was felt as far as New Delhi, India, more than 2,000 km from Central Asia.
“It was a powerful earthquake and we feared maximum damage due to the intensity — that’s why we issued an alert,” Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Pakistan’s emergency Rescue 1122 service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told AFP.
“But fortunately our fears proved wrong. Residents panicked due to the magnitude of the earthquake, but the damage was minimal.”
The region is frequently hit by quakes — especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
cc: Punch Ng
