New Delhi: A series of earthquakes rocked Afghanistan and India on Wednesday, causing panic among the residents. According to the National Center for Seismology, two earthquakes of magnitude 4.4 and 4.8 occurred in Afghanistan, near the city of Faizabad, at 12:28 am and 12:55 am respectively. The depth of the earthquakes was 80 kilometers, indicating that they originated from the Hindu Kush mountain range, which is prone to seismic activity.
The tremors were also felt in parts of India, especially in the northeastern states of West Bengal and Manipur. An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 was recorded in the Alipurdur district of West Bengal at 10:55 pm on Tuesday, followed by another earthquake of magnitude 3 in the Ukhrul district of Manipur at 12:01 am on Wednesday. The earthquakes in India were shallow, ranging from 5 to 26 kilometers. No major damage or casualties were reported from either country.
Japan
Meanwhile, Japan was also hit by a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.6 on Tuesday night, which triggered a series of aftershocks and a tsunami warning. The earthquake struck in western Japan at 11:08 pm local time, near the coast of Ishikawa prefecture. The quake was felt across a wide area, including the capital Tokyo, and caused widespread damage to buildings, vehicles, and boats. The tsunami warning was lifted after about an hour, but officials warned that more earthquakes may occur in the coming days.
According to the latest reports, at least 55 people have died and 17 people have been seriously injured due to the earthquake and its aftermath. Thousands of houses have collapsed and many people have been displaced. Water, electricity, and phone services have been disrupted in some areas, hampering the rescue and relief operations. The government has deployed the Self-Defense Forces and the police to assist the local authorities and the affected people. The Prime Minister has expressed his condolences to the victims and vowed to support the recovery efforts.
