The first quake, with a magnitude of 5.4, struck at 9:32 am (0502 GMT) at a depth of 48 kilometres (30 miles) with the epicentre around 160 kilometres southwest of the town of Feyzabad, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Around 25 minutes later the second quake hit in almost exactly the same place, with a magnitude of 5.6 and a depth of 31 kilometres, according to the USGS.

Buildings were felt to shake slightly in Kabul, around 170 kilometres to the south, during both quakes.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.