Powerful Earthquake Shakes Afghanistan and Pakistan
Reuters
A powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday, with tremors felt from the capital Kabul to neighboring areas of Pakistan, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
The earthquake triggered panic in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly in the Swat district, where residents rushed out of their homes in fear.
"It was a very strong quake, and the shaking lasted for quite some time," said Swat resident Daniyal Ahmed.
Witnesses said men, women, and children poured into open areas, with many visibly frightened. Several women and children were seen crying as the tremors subsided.
Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority said there were no immediate official reports of casualties or major damage. Authorities are continuing to assess the situation.
According to the EMSC, the earthquake measured 6.0 on the Richter scale and originated at a depth of 100 kilometers beneath the Earth's surface in the Hindu Kush region.
The EMSC also reported that a separate 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck Pakistan earlier on Saturday. No major casualties or significant damage have been reported in either country so far.
