Magnitude-7.5 Earthquake Strikes Southern Asia

Strategic Insights -

A powerful earthquake struck southern Asia on Monday afternoon, affecting multiple countries and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The quake, with a magnitude of 7.5, was centered in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border, causing widespread damage and loss of life.

Key Takeaways:

  • The earthquake killed at least 71 people in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with the director general of the provincial disaster management authority stating that the number was likely to rise.
  • At least 589 people were injured in the quake, with many more feared trapped under debris.
  • Twelve schoolgirls were killed in a stampede in northern Afghanistan, crushed in the stairwell of their school in Taluqan city.
  • The USGS issued an orange alert for the quake, indicating significant casualties and a potential regional or national level response.
  • The epicenter of the quake was 45 kilometers south-southwest of Jarm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 213.5 kilometers.
  • Shaking from the quake was felt in multiple countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Tajikistan.

Statistics:

  • Death toll in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province: at least 71
  • Injured in the quake: at least 589
  • Magnitude of the earthquake: 7.5
  • Depth of the quake: 213.5 kilometers
  • Countries affected by the quake: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
  • Number of schoolgirls killed in Afghanistan: 12

Sources:

  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
  • CNN producer Masoud Popalzai in Kabul
  • CNN correspondent Sophia Saifi in Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Afghan broadcaster Tolo TV
  • Pakistan's provincial disaster management authority
  • Kyrgyz TV channel (unnamed)
  • Twitter account of India's President Narendra Modi
  • Twitter account of a Pakistan military spokesman (unnamed)