At least 255 people were killed in a violent earthquake late Tuesday evening (local time) in the Afghan-Pakistan border region, according to official figures. Another 155 were injured in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province, state news agency Bakhtar reported Wednesday.
A spokesman for the ruling Taliban also spoke of dozens of houses destroyed in four affected districts of the province bordering Pakistan. Local media reported that one village was completely destroyed.
Strength from 5.9 to 6.1
The United States Earthquake Monitoring Station (USGS) reported a magnitude of 5.9 for the quake just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday (local time) and a slightly weaker aftershock. Accordingly, the center of the earthquake was located about 50 kilometers southwest of the city of Khost near the border with Pakistan at a depth of about ten kilometers. The Pakistani authorities registered the earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1.
According to Pakistani information, the tremors were felt in much of the neighboring country – including in the capital Islamabad and even in Lahore in the east of the country. Panic erupted in some places, but according to initial information, nothing was known about damage or injuries in Pakistan. According to the civil protection authority, local emergency services were trying to gain access to the affected remote mountain area.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
