Tommy Evans reports on an earthquake in Kabul

October 22nd, 2009
Strong earthquake rocks Afghanistan
Posted: 04:56 PM ET

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) – A strong earthquake rumbled deep beneath mountainous regions northeast of Kabul early Friday, waking residents and sending some into the streets.

But no serious damage has been reported from the magnitude 6.2 quake, which struck about 12:30 a.m. about 50 miles southeast of Feyzabad, Afghanistan, in a sparsely populated area.

Centered nearly 170 miles down, the earthquake’s power was muted on the surface, although was felt lightly as far away as northern India.

CNN’s Thomas Evans and Chris Lawrence, both in Kabul, said the quake lasted for nearly 30 seconds and seemed to increase in intensity.

“I had gone to bed about an hour ago and had fallen asleep,” Lawrence said. “Woke up instantly to the shaking, which was considerable. I could feel our whole house here in Kabul moving.”

“I went out on the roof very soon after,” Evans related. “I could hear people gathering outside of their homes but no obvious signs of damage, no smoke or sirens, at least not in the Sherpur district of Kabul.”

CNN’s Tommy Groves – currently on military reserve duty as Navy Lt. Groves, the U.S. military spokesman in Kabul – said he had received no reports of damage from military posts around the country and had seen none walking around his base in Kabul.

(Thanks to Lynda for the speedy reporting!)