Moderate quake strikes Afghanistan

Northern Afghanistan and Pak are frequently hit by earthquakes, especially around Hindu Kush range.

Kabul: A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan`s mountainous Hindu Kush region early Thursday, US seismologists said.

The quake hit at 04:22am (2352 GMT Wednesday) just over 200 kilometres (130 miles) north of the capital Kabul, the United States Geological Survey said.

Its epicentre was 55 kilometres deep.

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 Pakistan in October 2005 killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million.

Bureau Report