Earthquake tremors jolt Islamabad and several regions of Pakistan
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Saturday afternoon, while tremors were also felt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from another earlier quake.
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck parts of northern Pakistan on Saturday, with tremors felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and several districts across Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
The earthquake in Pakistan measured 5.5 on the Richter scale and occurred at 12:30pm, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC). It further said the quake struck at a depth of 12 kilometres, with its epicentre located 60km northwest of Rawalpindi.
However, according to the United States Geological Survey, the quake measured 5.0 on the Richter scale and had a depth of 39.2km.
There are no immediate reports of any damages from the earthquake.
Meanwhile, a separate 4.3-magnitude earthquake also jolted the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region about 35 minutes earlier, the NSMC said.
It added that the 11:54am quake had an epicentre with a depth of 88km.
Parts of KP — including Shangla, Swat, Mardan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra and Kohistan — felt the tremors of that quake, according to a correspondent who noted that jolts in KP and Islamabad were felt at different times.
Jolts were also felt in KP’s Hazara division and Swabi district, according to another correspondent.
The Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region also experienced a 3.8-magnitude jolt at 11:26am, with a depth of 109km, the NSMC stated.
Pakistan witnessed around 20 low-intensity earthquakes in the first half of February — an average of more than one tremor each day.
However, experts had pointed out that such minor seismic activities “preempt” high-intensity earthquakes by constantly releasing accumulated energy within the tectonic plates.
Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — according to geological engineer Muhammad Rehan, creating five seismic zones within the country.
Strong shocks were reported in Islamabad and the twin city of Rawalpindi, prompting residents to evacuate homes and buildings in fear. Similar tremors were also felt in Swat, Swabi, Buner, Sangla Hill, and surrounding areas.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab confirmed that the earthquake was also felt in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, and other areas of the province.
No loss of life or property damage has been reported so far, according to PDMA officials.
However, emergency response teams and equipment have been placed on high alert across the affected regions.
“The PDMA’s provincial control room and district emergency operation centers remain operational 24/7,” said DG PDMA Punjab. “Any damage or emergency can be reported via the PDMA helpline at 1129.”
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and residents have been advised to remain cautious in the event of aftershocks
This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned.