Quake hits east Afghanistan near Pakistan border, casualties reported

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late Sunday, sending tremors across the region and prompting conflicting reports on the strength of the quake and the extent of casualties. The quake occurred around 11:47 p.m. local time and was felt in cities including Kabul and across the border in Pakistan, officials and seismological agencies said.

Seismological agencies gave differing estimates of the earthquake's magnitude and depth. Some agencies reported a magnitude of about 6.0 at a shallow depth of roughly 10 kilometers, while others put the magnitude as high as 6.2 with a depth up to about 35 kilometers. One agency registered the event slightly lower, near magnitude 5.1 to 5.3, and recorded a deeper focus in the Hindu Kush region. These discrepancies reflect the rapid, preliminary nature of seismic readings and the variety of methods used to calculate magnitude and depth.

Local health officials in eastern Afghanistan reported casualties. Ajmal Darwaish, a spokesman for the regional health department, said at least nine people were killed and more than 15 injured, while another provincial health spokesman, Naqibullah Rahimi, said 15 people were...