Earthquakes of magnitude 6.3 and aftershock shake Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: An

earthquake

of 6.3

magnitude

struck northwest Afghanistan early on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said. It was followed by a magnitude 5.5 aftershock 20 minutes later.
The quake was reported around 8am (0330 GMT) with an epicentre 33 kilometres (20 miles) in the northwest of Herat city, capital of the same-named western province, the USGS said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, however disaster management officials told AFP they were still investigating.
The earthquake, which hit Herat, was followed by aftershock of 5.5 magnitude, the USGS added.

In the affected region, villages have been flattened and over 1,000 were killed by a series of tremors this month.
(With inputs from agencies)