Powerful 6.5 Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan and Pakistan!
Devastating Quake Rocks Region for 30 Seconds
On the night of March 21, a fierce earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck northeastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of India. The US Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter near Jurm in Afghanistan’s quake-prone northeast. The tremors rumbled for at least 30 terrifying seconds.
Casualties and Chaos in Afghanistan and Pakistan
The quake claimed two lives, including a child, in Afghanistan’s Laghman province. Meanwhile, hospitals in northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province treated at least 180 people with minor injuries. Panic gripped the region as residents fled their homes fearing structural collapses and further tremors.
Terrified Locals Flee Homes Amidst Aftershocks
In Kabul, 50-year-old Khatera said, “It was a terrifying tremor. I had never felt such a tremor before in my life.” She dashed out of her fifth-floor flat, joining many others seeking safety outside. Local shopkeeper Noor Mohammad Hanifi pitched tents for his family, refusing to let them inside unstable buildings. “Nobody dares to go inside their homes,” he told AFP.
Nowruz Celebrations Disrupted as Authorities Brace for Impact
The earthquake struck during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, when many families were outdoors celebrating. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that health centres across Afghanistan were on high alert. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the National Disaster Management Authority to prepare for any emergencies.
