Over 230 killed in Afghan earthquake

A strong earthquake in northern Afghanistan yesterday shook buildings from Kabul to Delhi, cut power and communications in some areas and caused more than 230 deaths, mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pakistani officials said that at least 154 people were killed and nearly 600 others wounded across the country, while Afghan officials said 74 people were killed and more than 200 wounded.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the 7.5-magnitude earthquake was in the Hindu Kush mountains, in the sparsely populated province of Badakhshan, which borders Pakistan, Tajikistan and China.