A 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit southern Asia Monday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The USGS issued an orange alert on the quake. “Significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread,” the agency said. “Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response.”
According to reports, the quake was felt in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
“Reports coming of damage and injuries in north eastern Afghanistan,” Abdullah Abdullah, chief executive of Afghanistan, said in a tweet. “Disasters authorities to meet within the hour and respond to the needs.”
USGS reported the epicenter was 28 miles south-southwest of Jarm, Afghanistan, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. After reporting it as a magnitude of 7.7, USGS revised it to 7.5. The quake’s epicenter was a depth of 132.7 miles.
According to the Associated Press, as of 3:40 p.m. local time, the total death toll from the quake was 43, including 12 girls at a school in Afghanistan who died in a stampede trying to get out of the building.
