Earthquake strikes northwest Pakistan

Sydney: A shallow earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 struck northwest Pakistan on Thursday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake was only 10 kilometres deep and struck at 6:57 GMT about 140 kilometres northeast of Sialkot in Pakistan, said the USGS.

Powerful, shallow quakes are capable of causing extensive damage.

Pakistan bore the brunt of a powerful quake centred in Iran last month, killing at least 35 people in Pakistan and destroying hundreds of houses.