2005 Hindu Kush earthquake

2005 Hindu Kush earthquake
UTC time2005-12-12 21:47:45
ISC event7996705
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateDecember 13, 2005 (2005-12-13)
Local time02:17:45 AFT
Magnitude6.5 Mw
6.0 mb
Depth224.6 km (140 mi)
Epicenter36°22′N 71°01′E / 36.36°N 71.01°E / 36.36; 71.01
Areas affectedAfghanistan
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Max. intensityMMI V (Moderate)
Casualties5 dead
1 injured

The 2005 Hindu Kush earthquake hit northeastern Afghanistan with a magnitude of 6.5 on December 12 at 21:47 (UTC). According to the United States Geological Survey, the maximum Mercalli intensity was V (Moderate) at Chitral. Five people were killed in the Hindu Kush region and landslides blocked several roads near Bagh, Kashmir. The earthquake occurred some 65 miles away from Faizabad, a city in the Hindu Kush mountains, but it could be felt in many neighboring areas. It could even be felt about 200 miles away in Islamabad, Pakistan. The quake was strong enough to trigger panic among survivors of October's devastating earthquake, who came out from their makeshift shelters in freezing temperatures. Although magnitude–6 earthquakes typically cause severe damage, this quake caused relatively little because it occurred deep underground (224.6 km (140 mi)).