DHAKA: A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck major cities of Pakistan, including the northern areas, on Monday, leaving at least 71 dead and scores injured due to roof and building collapses.

The earthquake struck the country at 2:09pm (local time) on Monday.

Forty minutes after the first earthquake, an aftershock of 4.8 magnitude was reported in the same area. Aftershocks are expected to continue in the affected areas.

The magnitude of Monday’s earthquake is close to the previous earthquake of 2005, but the destruction was more widespread then due to the shallow epicenter of the earthquake.

The earthquake in 2005 was at a depth of 26 km, while today’s earthquake was at a depth of 212.5 km, according to analyst Faheem Zaman.

Tremors were also felt in Kabul and New Delhi.

Moreover, at least 12 students were killed in a girl’s school in Afghanistan’s Takhar province, sources told Al Jazeera, adding that the death toll was expected to increase.

BDST: 1918 HRS, OCT 26, 2015
RR

** 52 dead in Pakistan quake
** 24 killed as massive quake hits Pakistan
** Massive earthquake shakes South Asia