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People stand near a collapsed building in Islamabad. Dozens of people have died in Pakistan after a major quake, with reports of whole villages being wiped out in northern areas and many trapped in a collapsed apartment block in the capital Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (Xinhuanet) -- A powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale hit border area of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on Saturday, causing possible heavy casualties. 

    At least seven people were killed and hundreds of others injured in Pakistan. News reports said part of a 10-story apartment building collapsed in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, anddozens of people were feared trapped in the rubble.

    Local television news station, Geo, said it had received unconfirmed reports that at least 25 people had died in the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir.

    At least 15 Indian soldiers died and several others were injured Saturday in a major earthquake that hit Indian-ruled Kashmir, the Indian army said.

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    Indian army spokesman Major P. Seghal said the worst affected area on the Indian side was Uri, north of the main Kashmir town ofSrinagar, where the quake had triggered landslides and fires.

Pakistani rescue-workers pull an injured man out of a collapsed building. Dozens of people have died in Pakistan after a major quake, with reports of whole villages being wiped out in northern areas and many trapped in a collapsed apartment block in the capital Islamabad.

    Afghan officials said at least two children had been killed near the town of Jalalabad, while at least one person was confirmed dead and 50 injured in the Indian controlled zone of Kashmir.

    The US Geological Survey and the Pakistan Meteorological Department said the epicenter of the tremor was around 100 kilometers northeast of Islamabad. Enditem