Kabul, 22 October (AKI) - A strong earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit northern Afghanistan, Pakistan and India on Friday. Early reports say at least five people have died and several others have been injured in Pakistan's mountainous area. However, due to the remoteness of the area, news of casualties could take a while to reach the outside world.

In Pakistan, the 600 kilometre radius quake jolted the Pakistani capital Islamabad, and the cities of Lahore, Kohat, Mansehra, Peshawar, Mardan and surrounding areas.

In Afghanistan, the quake was also felt in the capital Kabul, while in India the temblor hit the northern state of Kashmir and Jammu, and was felt as far as the capital New Delhi, causing panic but no damage.

According to Pakistan's Geo News, the epicentre of the quake lies 180 kilometres deep in the ground in the northwestern Hindu Kush range.

The quake brought back memories of an earthquake which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale in October 2005 which killed 75,000 people and left nearly three million homeless. in mountainous northern Pakistan.