The situation
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan at 13:39 (Kabul time) on 26 October 2015. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre was 82 km southeast of Feyzabad in the Hindu Kush mountain range and 213 km deep. Two aftershocks were reported in the first two hours after the earthquake hit.
The US Geological Survey initially measured the earthquake’s intensity at 7.7 on the Richter scale then revised it down to 7.5. The quake has had a regional impact as significant shaking was felt in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and as far as Pakistan – in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Punjab, Balochistan and Islamabad – and India.
Afghanistan
This has been the worst earthquake in the last 30 years to hit northern Afghanistan. The earthquake has caused extensive damage to property and life in Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Nuristan, Laghman, Kunar, Nangarher and Kabul provinces. More of the affected are rural areas. Large swathes of Badakhshan, the remote province where the epicentre is located, and other areas are effectively controlled by the Taliban, and pose a huge challenge to any official aid efforts.
According to initial information reports received from ARCS eastern regional office in Jalalabad, ARCS north eastern regional office in Kunduz and ARCS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Kabul, a total of 77 people have been killed, 217 injured, 1,447 families affected, and 2,914 houses completely destroyed. A total of 1,202 houses were damaged in Bhadakshan alone. These numbers are likely to increase. The Kabul-Jalalabad highway was blocked by a land slide following the earthquake. A sizeable rock still remains in the middle of the road causing traffic congestion. The provincial disaster management committee in Baghlan Province reported that 286 families have been affected.
Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) is coordinating initial assessments with all incountry humanitarian partners for earthquake response. Shelter and food items are being identified as the priority needs.
India
Based on initial reports received, no significant damage has been reported in Delhi. The metro in Delhi was stopped just after the earthquake and the telecommunication network has been disrupted in Kashmir Valley.
The National Coalition of Humanitarian Agencies in India (Sphere India) reports that damages have been reported in shops and market areas of Punjab. State and District Government Administration for Jammu and Kashmir have initially reported low numbers of homes/buildings damaged and death and injuries to its population.
The Government of India has indicated that it is ready to offer assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan and has initiated an immediate assessment of the situation.
Pakistan
The full extent of the damage and losses is not yet known, but preliminary reports from the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) indicate 206 deaths, 1,381 persons injured and 943 houses damaged across the country. The table below (sourced from NDMA) details the most recent statistics available at this time1 .
The districts of Peshawar, Mansehra, Chitral and Swat in KP are described as being the worst affected. Gilgit Baltistan, FATA, and AJK have also been affected, with reports of damaged houses, landslides and obstructed roadways in AJK. Most of the deaths and injuries are attributed to collapsed roofs and walls. Aftershocks of varying intensity are expected over the coming days..
A state of emergency has been declared in one province at this point, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At national level the NDMA has taken the lead in coordinating the response. At provincial and district levels, the response is being coordinated by the respective provincial, state and district disaster management authorities. The Government of Pakistan has mobilised all resources to support the earthquake-affected areas. Already, the NDMA has released 2,000 tents, 2,000 blankets and 2,000 floor mats to KP. The Pakistan Army has started search and rescue operations in affected areas. United Nations agencies are mobilizing emergency stocks as a preparatory measure in case support is required.
This past weekend, the northern areas of Pakistan experienced heavy snowfall, blocking roads and leaving many areas inaccessible even before the tremor occurred. The prediction is that these areas will experience a long, severe winter.