At least 12 people were killed by an earthquake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The strong earthquake was felt for thousands of kilometers on Wednesday. On the other hand, the mass casualties usually associated with earthquakes were not the case.
The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.5 quake was centering near Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan. Also, the depth of 187 kilometers (116 miles) mitigated extensive damage. The quake struck around 09:30 p.m. Kabul time on Tuesday and lasted more than 30 seconds. Meanwhile, it was felt from central Asia to New Delhi, India—more than 2,000 km away.
“It was a powerful earthquake, and we feared maximum damage due to the intensity.” Accordingly, an alert was issued. Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Pakistan’s emergency Rescue 1122 service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told AFP. But, fortunately, there were no massive casualties. 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. In Jurm district, near the epicentre, a resident of one village reported no casualties despite the location.
Further, panicked residents of cities and towns in Afghanistan and Pakistan also fled their homes to seek safety away from buildings. Many are still scared to return for fear of earthquakes. Even though it was cold outside, residents preferred it.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said health centres across the country had been put on high alert. Additionally, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the National Disaster Management Authority to be ready to deal with any emergency.