On the 26th March 2002 a devastating earthquake struck the northern part of Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. Afghan officials say nearly 5,000 people died.
At least 4,000 are injured and 20,000 homeless after the two tremors struck near the town of Nahrin in the Hindu Kush mountains. The epicenter was about 90 miles north of Kabul.
Up to now, rescuers have recovered 600 bodies but they have encountered many difficulties in completing the operation because frequent aftershocks are still shaking the Afghan villages.Because of primitive communications it often takes days for reports to become available.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey Web site, a 6.0 magnitude quake struck the area on Monday evening and a 5.0 magnitude quake hit the same region early Tuesday morning.
Quakes of magnitude 6.0 cause little damage in well-designed buildings, but they can cause major destruction in poorly constructed buildings.
Earthquakes and seismic activity are common in this part of the world and particularly in the Hindu Kush mountains.
A 6.9-magnitude quake in the same region on May 30, 1998, killed more than 4,000 people and injured many more.
(Adapted for educational purposes from "Officials: Afghan quake death toll may hit 5,000", www.cnn.com; and from "1,200 dead in Afghan earthquake", www.thetimes.com )
For more information:
Gori Giorgi, "Corso di scienze", vol. 3, "I terremoti", "Origine e distribuzione dei terremoti"
At least 4,000 are injured and 20,000 homeless after the two tremors struck near the town of Nahrin in the Hindu Kush mountains. The epicenter was about 90 miles north of Kabul.
Up to now, rescuers have recovered 600 bodies but they have encountered many difficulties in completing the operation because frequent aftershocks are still shaking the Afghan villages.Because of primitive communications it often takes days for reports to become available.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey Web site, a 6.0 magnitude quake struck the area on Monday evening and a 5.0 magnitude quake hit the same region early Tuesday morning.
Quakes of magnitude 6.0 cause little damage in well-designed buildings, but they can cause major destruction in poorly constructed buildings.
Earthquakes and seismic activity are common in this part of the world and particularly in the Hindu Kush mountains.
A 6.9-magnitude quake in the same region on May 30, 1998, killed more than 4,000 people and injured many more.
(Adapted for educational purposes from "Officials: Afghan quake death toll may hit 5,000", www.cnn.com; and from "1,200 dead in Afghan earthquake", www.thetimes.com )
For more information:
Gori Giorgi, "Corso di scienze", vol. 3, "I terremoti", "Origine e distribuzione dei terremoti"