Strong earthquake hits Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region

A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on Saturday, sending strong tremors across large parts of the country and into neighbouring Pakistan, where dozens of people were injured and homes were damaged.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles), allowing the shaking to be felt across a wide area, including Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.

Afghan authorities said there were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage, but assessments were continuing.

In a statement, Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said emergency teams had been deployed to inspect affected areas and determine the full impact of the earthquake.

Earlier on Saturday, Pakistan was also struck by a separate magnitude 5.4 earthquake, according to the EMSC.

The quake caused injuries and damage in several parts of the country, particularly in Musakhail district in Balochistan province.

Musakhail Deputy Commissioner Abdul Razzaq Khajak said more than 20 people were injured, while dozens of homes suffered varying degrees of damage.

Pakistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority reported that around 125 houses were damaged during the earthquake.

Relief teams were immediately dispatched to affected communities with emergency supplies, including tents, food, blankets, solar panels and other essential items for displaced families.

Residents in Pakistan’s northern Swat district also described scenes of panic as the earthquake shook buildings for several seconds.

“It was very huge here in Swat and it lasted for quite a long time,” resident Daniyal Ahmad said.

“People came out of their houses, and women and children were seen crying in panic.”

Despite the widespread tremors, no immediate fatalities were reported in Swat or surrounding areas.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sympathy for those affected by the earthquakes and instructed emergency authorities to respond quickly and provide assistance to affected communities.

The Hindu Kush mountain range is among the world’s most seismically active regions due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Deep earthquakes originating in the Hindu Kush are frequently felt across Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India and parts of Central Asia because seismic waves travel long distances beneath the Earth’s surface.

Authorities in both Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to monitor the situation as damage assessments and relief operations remain underway.