Magnitude 5.9 earthquake jolts Islamabad, Punjab, KP and AJK

ISLAMABAD: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake was felt across Islamabad and several parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, prompting residents in a number of cities to leave their homes in panic.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the quake originated at a depth of 178 kilometres, with its epicentre located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region. Tremors were reported in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Peshawar, while several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also experienced strong shaking. Residents in Shangla, Buner, Swat, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Malakand, Bajaur, Hangu, Wana and Lower Dir said they felt the quake.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly briefly adjourned its session for five minutes after the tremors were felt. In Punjab, the earthquake was reported in Mianwali, Chakwal, Jhang and nearby areas. Tremors were also felt in Muzaffarabad and Athmuqam, the district headquarters of Neelum Valley, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

There were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or damage to property.

Pakistan lies near the point where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making parts of the country vulnerable to earthquakes. The country has witnessed several devastating quakes in recent decades, including the 2005 earthquake in Azad Kashmir, which killed more than 73,000 people and displaced millions. Earlier this year, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake was felt in Islamabad, Swat and Hunza, while a 2021 earthquake in Balochistan’s Harnai district killed at least 20 people and triggered landslides that complicated rescue efforts.