At least 9 dead, dozens injured as 6.8 magnitude earthquake hits Pakistan

At least nine people were killed and dozens injured Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a 6.8 magnitude earthquake — with its epicentre being the Hindu Kush region — jolted parts of the country on Tuesday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The US Geological Survey said the quake rocked Afghanistan and parts of India as well, including the capital New Delhi, adding that the quake epicentre was 40 kilometres south-southeast of the Afghan town of Jurm.

EarthQuake AfterShocks

Date : 21/03/2023
Time: 22:43:18
Region: Hindukush Region, Afghanistan
Magnitude:3.7
Depth (km): 156
Latitude: 36.50 N
Longitude: 70.96 E#earthquake pic.twitter.com/kv8hsfClQ9

— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) March 21, 2023

An interim report from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority said that two people died and six people were injured from incidents of roof, wall and house collapses while eight homes were partially damaged in the province.

However, Swat District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur told Dawn.com that two people died in the district while 150 were injured, adding that they were moved to Saidu Teaching Hospital for treatment.

According to Radio Pakistan, PMD DG Mahr Sahibzad Khan said that earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan and other areas of the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the National Disaster Management Authority and other institutions to be ready to deal with any emergency.

Hearing some buildings were badly damaged in E-11 and F-11, Islamabad. Some residents wish to stay at a guest house overnight because building is cracked. No casualties reported. #earthquake pic.twitter.com/bWS7e06vE7

— Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi (@Ali_Abbas_Zaidi) March 21, 2023