PESHAWAR/MUZAFFARABAD: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Islamabad and parts of Punjab, Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, with tremors felt in several cities including Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad, and Skardu.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the quake occurred at 9:13pm PST with a depth of 190 kilometres. Its epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, at latitude 36.48°N and longitude 70.84°E.
Residents across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Taxila, Peshawar, Faisalabad, and Multan reported feeling strong tremors, though no significant damage or casualties have been confirmed.
In Punjab, Pakistan, tremors were felt in Sargodha, Chakwal, Chiniot, Jhelum, Mianwali, Narowal, Bhakkar, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Mandi Bahauddin, and Kamalia.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, residents in Peshawar, Nowshera, Swat, Shangla, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Kohat, Malakand, Mardan, Hangu, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Hazara, Buner, Bannu, Bajaur, Tank, and Charsadda reported tremors.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, the quake was felt in Gilgit, Skardu, and Diamer, while in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, tremors were reported in Muzaffarabad, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Samahni, and Hattian Bala — including areas such as Channari, Chikothi, Gujjar Bandi, and Lipa.
Strong tremors were also felt in Kabul and New Delhi, according to Reuters witnesses.
Pakistan’s vulnerability to earthquakes is due to its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, and the country has experienced several devastating quakes in recent decades.
Earlier this year, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook Islamabad, Swat, and Hunza. Meanwhile, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake killed over 73,000 people and left millions homeless. In 2021, a quake in Harnai claimed at least 20 lives and disrupted rescue efforts due to landslides.
Experts warn that the rugged terrain in Pakistan’s earthquake-prone regions makes relief operations more challenging, underscoring the importance of preparedness.
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