A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindukush region in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon local time (equivalent to Saturday evening in Greece), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake had a focal depth of 100 kilometres.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the same magnitude but reported a deeper focal point — at 208 kilometres.
The tremor was felt across a wide area, including Kabul and northern Pakistan, Reuters reported. In Swat, part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northern Pakistan, residents rushed out of their homes in panic, local resident Daniyal Ahmed told Reuters.
“It was very strong and lasted a long time,” he said. “People ran outside their homes, and women and children were crying in fear.”