The earthquake has gravely affected at least three countries, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, killing upwards of thousands of children, women and men due to the initial quake and its aftershocks.
A series of aftershocks followed the initial quake, one of them registered a magnitude of 6.2 at the epicentre.
To the shock of many, some people came out of buildings well after the initial quake, with bags packed.
Hundreds of aftershocks have followed the initial quake, but Thursday's was the strongest, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The initial quake (of the same magnitude as the San Francisco earthquake of 1906) struck at 2 28 p.m., while schools were open.
Fear of aftershocks, which continued for hours after the initial quake, led many thousands of people to sleep outside on Saturday night in low temperatures.
Peru's Geophysical Institute announced today that 106 aftershocks, some registering a magnitude of 3, had occurred since the initial quake.
The powerful aftershock, the latest of more than 500 since the initial quake, hit the area shortly after dawn on Friday, sending up plumes of thick grey dust, shaking buildings that were still standing and fuelling fears of fresh collapses which could hamper the rescue operation.
"I mean, we have magnitude fives, sixes — we deal with earthquakes all the time, and this was the strongest I've ever felt, and the most terrifying minute of my life". Several hours after the initial quake, aftershocks were still rolling across the region, and "it just stops your heart" when they happen, he said.
