MINSK, 26 October (BelTA) – The Embassy of Belarus in Islamabad is taking measures to find out whether any Belarusians have been affected by the latest earthquake in Pakistan, representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.
An earthquake measuring 7.7-8.1 points on the Richter scale has just rocked Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, killing and injuring people. A lot of buildings have been destroyed.
The U.S. Geological Survey service said that the earthquake’s epicenter was located in Afghanistan’s north 73km to the south of the city of Fayzabad, Badakhshan Province and 256km to the northeast of Kabul.
Tremors were also felt in Pakistan and India’s north. According to preliminary estimates, 13 people have been killed in Pakistan. Buildings came crushing down on people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Punjab Province. There are children among those killed by the earthquake. Nearly 300 people have been injured and hospitalized.
Devastation has been reported in India’s north triggering panic among the local population. Phone communications and power lines have been disrupted in the city of Srinagar. Metro service has been temporarily suspended in New Delhi.