50 reported dead in Afghan earthquake

At least 50 people have been reported dead following a strong earthquake across central and south Asia last night.

The earthquake, which measured 7.2 on the Richter Scale, was centred in the Hindu Kush mountains north of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and was also felt in Pakistan, India, Uzbekisan and Tajikistan.

An official from the UN World Food Programme in Afghanistan said at lest 50 people were killed and another 100 were reported missing in two villages in Samangan province.

Earthquakes and seismic activity are common in the region and particularly in the Hindu Kush mountains.

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the same region on May 30th, 1998, killed more than 5,000 people.