Saturday, January 3, 2009

6.2 quake shakes northeast Afghanistan, Pakistan



Officials say a strong earthquake has hit northeastern Afghanistan, a quake that rattled the capital Kabul for about a minute.
The U.S. Geological Survey says Sunday's quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 and was located in the northeastern province of Badakhshan in the Hindu Kush mountains. The area is often hit by earthquakes but is sparsely populated.A Badakhshan police official, Fazel Ahmad Naderi, says the quake was strong but noted that his cell phone still worked, meaning that towers had not been toppled. The quake hit about 12:50 a.m. local time and Naderi says he won't know about damage until daylight.The quake rattled buildings in Kabul, about 160 miles southwest of the epicenter.
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Rain, snowfall drop temperature in various cities.........
Peshawar—The mercury dropped to minus 10 in Kalam, Istor and Gopez areas as widespread rains and snowfall on hilltops were reported in most parts of the NWFP including the Provincial Metropolis here on Saturday. According to the Provincial met office, the current rainy spell would continue for the next two days. Most of the link roads were closed in Chitral, Galyat, Swat and Kaghan valley due to heavy snowfall in these areas. Talking to APP here on Saturday, an official of Provincial met office said that the westerly cold winds would continue its impact in the upper parts of country during the next two days. He said that heavy downpour was expected in NWFP, Kashmir, Punjab and Balochistan during the next 48 hours. The mercury remained at four degree centigrade in Peshawar on Saturday, minus two in Parachinar, 8 in Bannu, 3 in Balakot, 7 in Chirat, minus 1 in Dir, 0 degree in Chitral and Darosh, 4 in Taimargara, Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat, 2 in Abbotabad, 6 in Kohat, minus 7 in Skardu and minus 1in Gilgit.Snowfall started in Northern Areas on Friday night disrupted communication system besides adding to other miseries in different areas including Phandar, Yasin and Ashkoman, Hunza and Nagar. While the Met office has forecast the spell could continue for some more days in these areas. According to details, these areas received from 2-3 feet snow and in some areas, road access was blocked to Gilgit.

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