6.1 magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck Afghanistan on Thursday with tremors rippling through parts of north India, the National Centre for Seismology said.

The epicentre for the quake, which struck at 2.50 pm IST, was 241 kilometres north northeast of Kabul, it said.

The quake triggered panic among people, with many in Delhi and the National Capital Region reporting shaking of furniture.

The tremors were felt even in Pakistan.

There were no immediate reports of any injury or destruction.

The tremors triggered panic among people, with many in the national capital and surrounding areas reported shaking of furniture.

Earthquakes are frequent in Afghanistan and in the west and centre of the country, they are mostly caused by the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates jutting against each other.

Most homes in rural Afghanistan are made of mud and built around wooden support poles, with little in the way of steel or concrete reinforcement. Multi-generational extended families generally live under the same roof, meaning serious earthquakes can devastate communities.

A series of earthquakes shook the country last year, killing more than 1,000 people.