5.3 earthquake jolts parts of Kabul, provinces

KABUL, including the nation’s capital Islamabad.

The quake struck at 1:15pm in Kabul. The epicentre of the earthquake was the Hindu Kush (36.50N, 71.09E), with a focal dept of 175kms.

Afghanistan’s Geology and Survey Department acting director Mohammad Tahir Razai told Pajhwok Afghan News that the epicenter of the quake was in Juram district of northeastern Badakhshan province.

In Peshawar and Islamabad, strong shocks were felt at 13:37 local time, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.

The latest earthquake comes nearly three months after a 7.2 earthquake left 115 people dead and more than 500 wounded in various provinces of Afghanistan.

Active faults and resultant earthquakes in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan are the result of convergence between the S. Asian and Eurasia plates.

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