A magnitude-6.5 earthquake rattled Pakistan and Afghanistan on March 21, sending panicked residents fleeing from homes and offices. At least nine people died. More than 100 people were brought to hospitals in the Swat Valley region of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in a state of shock, Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Pakistan's emergency services, told AP. Most were later discharged. Faizi and other officials said nine people were killed when roofs collapsed in various parts of northwestern Pakistan. The quake was centered in Afghanistan and was also felt in Tajikistan.
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