5.9-magnitude quake hits Afghanistan, kills 8; tremors felt in north India
text_fields
New Delhi: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan on Friday night, killing at least eight people and sending tremors across several parts of north India, officials said.
According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake hit at 9.42 pm at a depth of around 150 km, with its epicentre in Afghanistan. Tremors were felt across Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and the National Capital Region, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, triggering panic among residents.
Authorities said there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties in India. However, in Afghanistan, a house collapsed in Kabul province, killing eight people and injuring a child, said Mohammad Yousuf Hammad, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority.
Residents across north India reported feeling sudden jolts, with ceiling fans, lights and furniture swaying for a few seconds. Many stepped out of homes and offices as a precaution, while some buildings were briefly evacuated.
Strong tremors were also felt in Kabul, with the epicentre initially located at 36.55 degrees north latitude and 70.85 degrees east longitude, at a depth of about 186.4 km, according to reports.
Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location along the boundary of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. The country records frequent quakes, particularly in eastern and northeastern regions, often leading to significant loss of life and damage to property.
