Strong earthquake strikes near Afganistan-Pakistan border, shock felt in Kathmandu too

Asia October 26- A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck southern Asia on Monday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter was 45 kilometers south southwest of Jarm, Afghanistan, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Officials said the quake happened at a depth of 212km (133 miles). The magnitude was initially put at 7.7 but later downgraded.

 Kabul, New Delhi, India, and Islamabad, Pakistan, all felt strong tremors.

A USGS map showed that shaking traveled into Tajikistan as well.

There were no immediate reports of casualties and damage  but one report said four people had been killed in north-west Pakistan.

In Pakistan, local news channels showed people evacuating office buildings. Phone lines in the Pakistani city of Lahore were down following the quake.

People in the Indian capital Delhi ran into the streets after the tremor struck and schools and offices were evacuated. The Delhi metro was also briefly halted.

David Rothery, a professor of planetary geosciences at the UK's Open University, said the quake had the potential to be very damaging.