6.5 earthquake strikes Afghanistan and Pakistan, 5 dead and hundreds injured

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan on Tuesday evening, leaving at least five dead and more than 150 injured, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center. 

The earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Hindu Kush mountain range near the province of Badakhshan and had a depth of 120.5 miles (194 kilometers), reported the U.S. Geological Survey.

A powerful earthquake, measuring 7.7 in magnitude, has struck the region, affecting Afghanistan, Tajikistan, India, and Pakistan. The tremor has caused significant damage throughout these countries. pic.twitter.com/cULWVz6P7c

— Fatima Faizi (@FatmaFaizi) March 21, 2023

The head of Badakhshan's information department, Mahzudeen Ahmadi, told Reuters that they were checking the damage in the area. He added that there were no reports of casualties yet. 

Two individuals died in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Laghman. Eight others were injured, according to Shafiullah Rahimi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Disaster Management.

At least three people died in northern Pakistan, including two children, according to Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial rescue services. Additionally, at least 150 others were injured, overwhelming local hospitals, according to authorities. 

The earthquake was felt by over 285 million people over an area 1,000 kilometers wide, affecting Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, according to the EMSC. 

6.8 Magnitude Earthquake hits Afghanistan, Tremors felt in #India
People came out of their homes in fear.#भूकंप #earthquake pic.twitter.com/Yqmkbyjrug

— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) March 21, 2023