An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 struck in the northern Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.   The quake hit at a depth of 33 kilometres some 48 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of Kunduz, capital of Kunduz province, in the early afternoon, according to a preliminary report by the US Geological Survey.

Local officials in four provinces in the region told AFP they had received no reports of damage or casualties.

Northern Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

Two quakes in June triggered landslides that killed at least 75 villagers.