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Afghanistan

Strong quake jolts north Pakistan, Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake rocked northern Pakistan and parts of neighbouring Afghanistan on Wednesday, but there was no immediate report of damage, residents and officials said.

The quake hit at 12:10 p.m. (0710 GMT), jolting buildings in the Pakistani capital Islamabad and several other cities, and the Afghan capital Kabul, residents said.

A seismic centre in the northern Pakistani town of Peshawar said its preliminary analysis measured the quake strength at six on the Richter scale, which can cause widespread damage. Its epicentre was 250 km (150 miles) north of there in the Hindukush mountains on the Pakistan-Afghan border, it said.

"No loss of life and property has been reported so far," said Pakistan's official APP news agency.

Afghans ran from their houses into the streets of Kabul when the tremor was felt, the same time that residents of the Pakistan capital, Islamabad, said buildings shook and swayed.

Islamabad residents said the tremor lasted less than 10 seconds, but workers in high-rise towers said it was strong enough to make their buildings sway alarmingly.

Afghanistan has suffered several earthquakes in recent years which killed thousands and made thousands more homeless.