Earthquake Today: Strong tremors felt in Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir as 6.2-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan

According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck Afghanistan on Saturday, with tremors felt across northern India, including Delhi-NCR. The earthquake occurred at 19:04 and struck at a depth of 215 km below the surface.

While no damage or injuries were immediately reported, authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

NCS confirmed the seismic activity in a post on social media platform X. Tremors were also reported in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) emphasizes that Afghanistan is extremely vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides and seasonal floods. UNOCHA also pointed out that frequent seismic activity in the region is having a serious impact on already fragile communities that have gone through years of conflict and underdevelopment.

Read also | Another 4.9-magnitude earthquake hits Venezuela, death toll exceeds 900

Social networks are responding

Social media was flooded with reports of the earthquake felt in several parts of India, including Delhi and Srinagar.

Srinagar, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, described brief moments of panic, saying he was inside when the tremors began.

“An earthquake hit. I was sitting on a chair inside. The chair shook… Fortunately, there is no damage in the area yet. I don’t know what can happen next…” Ahmed said.

The latest tremors come after at least five moderate earthquakes struck Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province since Friday, indicating increased seismic activity in the region.

Meanwhile, on June 25, Venezuela was hit by twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5. The strong tremors are said to have killed at least 920 people, left more than 51,000 people missing and caused widespread destruction.

Read also | Venezuela earthquake update: Death toll rises to 920, over 51,000 missing

earthquake in Venezuela

Venezuela’s government said on Saturday that more than 1,600 members of international rescue teams had arrived to help with search and rescue operations after the devastating twin earthquakes that killed more than 900 people. Authorities have also tightened access to the worst-hit state as relief efforts continue.

While the government says hundreds of people remain missing or trapped under the rubble, an opposition-backed website says more than 54,000 are missing.

Twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela earlier this week. The US Geological Survey estimated that the death toll could exceed 10,000, making the disaster one of the deadliest earthquakes in Latin America in the last century.

Read also | India sends aid to earthquake-hit Venezuela under Operation Amistad: Jaishankar

In the coastal town of La Guaira, a popular beach destination, residents and volunteers expressed concern over the lack of heavy equipment and the limited presence of government rescue teams. At least 100 buildings, including several residential high-rises, were destroyed or severely damaged in the disaster.

Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez said in an overnight address on state television that 10 other countries were expected to join the rescue mission, while around 14,000 military personnel and police were deployed in La Guaira to maintain security and carry out hygiene measures.

“In the last hours, Venezuela received 17 flights with more than 1,600 rescue team members, and another 25 flights are expected to arrive in the next 24 hours,” State Department official Oliver Blanco said.

“We thank the international community for its support and solidarity in these moments of uncertainty for Venezuelans,” Blanco added on X in the early hours of Saturday.