  | |
| UTC time | 2005-12-12 21:47:45 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 7996705 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | December 13, 2005 |
| Local time | 02:17:45 AFT |
| Magnitude | 6.5 Mw 6.0 mb [1] |
| Depth | 224.6 km (140 mi) [1] |
| Epicenter | 36°22′N71°01′E / 36.36°N 71.01°E [2] |
| Areas affected | Afghanistan Pakistan Tajikistan |
| Max. intensity | MMI V (Moderate) |
| Casualties | 5 dead [3] 1 injured [3] |
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. [4] The earthquake occurred some 65 miles away from Faizabad, a city in the Hindu Kush mountains, [5] but it could be felt in many neighboring areas. [6] It could even be felt about 200 miles away in Islamabad, Pakistan. [5] 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. [7] Although magnitude–6 earthquakes typically cause severe damage, this quake caused relatively little because it occurred deep underground (224.6 km (140 mi)). [5]