Earthquake in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region injures 20, sends tremors into Pakistan

A strong earthquake, registering a magnitude 6, jolted Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday, causing tremors that extended into neighboring Pakistan. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center reported the quake occurred at a depth of 100 kilometers (62 miles).

While the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority stated that checks for casualties and damage were ongoing, the impact was more immediately apparent in Pakistan. In the Musakhail district, over 20 people sustained injuries, and dozens of houses suffered damage. The disaster management authority in Pakistan's Balochistan province reported approximately 125 houses were damaged, dispatching relief teams with essential supplies.

Residents in Pakistan's Swat district described the earthquake as "very huge" and prolonged, with people fleeing their homes in panic. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the damage and ordered an urgent response to assist those affected.

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It was very huge here in Swat, and it lasted for quite a long time. People came out of their houses, and women and children were seen crying in panic.