At least eight people have died in an earthquake in Afghanistan with a magnitude of 5.8. The tremors also hit Pakistan.
At least eight people died in Friday’s earthquake in Afghanistan. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 also hit neighboring Pakistan, TASR reports, according to an AP report.
Tremors on Friday evening were felt in the north and east of Afghanistan, as well as in western Pakistan. According to the US Geological Service (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake was in the Hindu Kush mountain range approximately 150 kilometers east of the Afghan city of Kunduz.
Hindu Kush and risk
Afghanistan is often affected by earthquakes, especially around the aforementioned Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet.
A Kabul official said eight family members were killed and a child was injured when the house collapsed. The capital is located approximately 290 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake. No damage or injuries were reported from areas closer to the epicenter. The AP notes that the area is remote and it often takes hours for local authorities to relay information to Kabul.
Upheavals in Pakistan
The earthquake was also felt in the Pakistani cities of Islamabad, Peshawar, Chitral, Swat and Shangla. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from Pakistan.
