Overview
A powerful earthquake struck Badakshan Province in Afghanistan 10 April and also affected a large area of Pakistan.
According to the US Geological Service the magnitude 6.6 quake struck at 10:28 UTC (UTC), at a depth of 210 kilometers, with the epicenter in Badakshan, Afghanistan in the Hindu Kush mountain range. Considerable shaking was felt in Khyber Paktunkhwa (KP), the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and Pakistan Administered Kashmir, as well as in the capital Islamabad.
Initial reports from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority indicate at least 5 people have been killed in Pakistan with another 5 injured. A total of 20 houses were damaged with 13 of those in Buner district, KP.
Many of the areas affected by the earthquake have also been experiencing unseasonably heavy pre-monsoon rains with 260 people killed, 228 injured, and 2,690 houses damaged due to flooding, landslides, and collapsed houses since 9 March.
Response
As a result of the earthquake, PDMA dispatched 700 tents (Shangla, Swat, Dir Lower, Dir Upper, Kohistan), 800 quilts (Shangla, Swat), and 500 food packages (Kohistan). NDMA is sending 1,200 packets of dry milk and 500 bags of wheat flour to Gilgit Baltistan.
Emergency operational centers have been activated at federal level at NDMA and also at PDMA KP. Hospitals in Peshawar are on high alert.
Due to fresh landslides attributed to the earthquake, the Karakoram Highway reopening has been delayed for another seven days where landslides due to heavy rains had blocked the road.
Pakistan Airforce will assess damages in remote areas through aerial photographs and SUPARCO has been asked to provide satellite imagery of the areas.
The international community has not been requested to provide assistance. OCHA is in close communications with the disaster management authorities.
