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Afghan earthquakes kill at least 25

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-17 14:21

KABUL -- Two earthquakes, separately measured 5.5 magnitude and 5.1 magnitude, hit eastern Afghanistan in the wee hours on Friday killing at least 25 people, an official said Friday.

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Sayed Rahman, the chief of Sherzad district told Xinhua that the quake and its aftershock have left 25 people dead and 30 more injured.

"Over 200 houses were also destroyed. Police and first-aid team have been sent to the site for rescuing," Rahman said. However, he estimated the death toll will further rise.

The Hindu Kush range which covers northern and eastern Afghanistan are often jolted by earthquakes.

One quake of 5.5 magnitude rattle the Hindu Kush border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan at 1:57 a.m. local time (GMT2127) at a depth of eight kilometers and was followed by the other one of 5.1 magnitude at a depth of three kilometers two hours later, the US Geological Survey's website said.

People in Afghan capital Kabul could feel shaking of house and rattling of windows.

Northern Afghanistan and Pakistan are frequently hit by earthquakes, especially around the Hindu Kush range near the collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake in northwest Pakistan and Kashmir in October 2005 killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million.