Afghanistan, Pakistan: No damage or deaths immediately reported after magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurs in shared border region at around 01:24 AFT June 22 /update 1

Event

No damage or deaths were immediately reported after a magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurred in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region at around 01:24 AFT June 22. However, damage may be reported over the coming hours in areas where shaking occurred, especially near the epicenter. The epicenter was about 46 km (28 miles) southwest of Khost, Afghanistan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and strong shaking was felt in areas near the epicenter, with light-to-moderate shaking likely felt in other areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.