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Strong earthquake shakes South Asia

April 10, 2016

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake has struck northeastern Afghanistan, rattling neighboring Pakistan and Indian-administered Kashmir. There are no immediate reports of casualties, and the extent of damage is unclear.

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Karte Erdbeben Pakistan April 2016 englisch

The powerful quake hit 39 kilometers (24.2 miles) southwest of Ashkashan in the Hindu Kush region near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, the US Geological Survey reported on Sunday.

No information on damage from the earthquake-hit areas has been reported, said Ahmad Kamal, a spokesman for Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority.

However, he warned that post-quake landslides continue to be a potential threat and asked regional authorities to prepare for all possible circumstances.

The tremors were felt in Kabul and Islamabad, and as far as the Indian capital, New Delhi. An underground train in New Delhi had to be stopped for safety reasons, reported NDTV.

In Islamabad, terrified residents rushed out of their homes and office buildings.

The earthquake also rattled Srinagar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir.

"People are on the streets now and we don't know whether to go back inside," said an AFP reporter in Srinagar.

A similar quake killed more than 400 people across Afghanistan, Pakistan and India last October.

rs, shs/tj (AFP, AP, dpa)