An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 M at a depth of 210 km occurred in the province of Badakhshan (north-eastern Afghanistan) on 10 April at 10.28 UTC. The epicentre was located in Zebak district which is in a low population density area 39 km west-southwest of Ashkasham and 282 km north-east of the capital city, Kabul. The earthquake was also felt across Pakistan and India. USGS PAGER estimated that 5 331 000 people were exposed to "Light" shaking.
In Afghanistan, there have been no reports of casualties, as of 11 April early morning (UTC). Due to the remoteness of the epicentre, it will take time for field assessment teams to reach all affected areas.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, Pakistan, five deaths and 40 injured have been reported as of 11 April early morning (UTC); 75 homes are reported damaged in the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
The Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan and China will remain closed for another seven days. Due to heavy rains last week, landslides blocked the road and more landslides are feared due to the earthquake.
The KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has dispatched 700 tents (Shangla, Swat, Dir Lower, Dir Upper, Kohistan), 800 quilts (Shangla, Swat), and 500 food packages (Kohistan). The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is also sending relief items to Gilgit Baltistan.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that rains may trigger landslides in Malakand, Hazara divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Since early March, these areas have been badly affected by pre-monsoon rains with 260 people killed, 228 injured, and 2 690 houses damaged due to flooding and landslides.
Source: European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office
Country: Afghanistan, Pakistan
