ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Monday, causing panic among residents.
According to the Seismological Centre, the quake originated in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region and occurred at a depth of 215 kilometres beneath the surface.
The tremors were felt in numerous areas of KP, including Peshawar, Swat, Buner, Kohat, Hangu, Shangla, Mohmand, Bajaur, Charsadda, Swabi, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram and Dera Ismail Khan. Residents of Tank, Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan also reported shaking.
In Punjab, the earthquake was experienced in Multan and adjoining areas, while people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi also felt the tremors.
Rescue 1122 authorities confirmed reports of shaking from multiple districts and advised citizens to contact emergency services if required. No casualties or property damage were immediately reported.
Pakistan frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location on the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making the country vulnerable to earthquakes of varying intensity.
