Quake Rocks Kabul

At least five people died and 20 were injured when a powerful earthquake shook northern Afghanistan yesterday.

The 90-second tremor destroyed buildings and caused residents to flee their homes. All the casualties were residents in the capital, Kabul.

Measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale with a depth of 120 miles, the quake also jolted the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, the eastern city of Lahore and the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

"At least 30 houses [in Kabul] collapsed or were badly damaged," a spokesman for Afghanistan's information ministry said.

Many of the fragile mud houses in Kabul's poor southern district of Baghi Ali Mardan sustained minor damage, while a small shack selling household goods was crushed by a concrete slab which fell from a neighbouring building.

One of the victims, a 45-year-old man, was killed when a wall in his yard collapsed. His 12-year-old son was injured.

Earthquakes are common in the Hindu Kush area. A similar tremor struck northern Afghanistan on January 3. No one was hurt.

Reuters