ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, and several districts of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Thursday afternoon.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the earthquake occurred at 1:28 pm local time at a depth of 198 kilometres. Its epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush mountains region near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.
Tremors were felt in multiple cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Swat, Abbottabad, Nowshera, Kohat, Buner, Lower Dir, Shangla, Malakand, Chitral, and Swabi.
The earthquake also affected areas such as Takht Bhai, Rustam, and Batkhela, prompting people to evacuate their homes and offices as a precautionary measure.
A spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that emergency teams remain on high alert, and district administrations across the province have been contacted to assess the situation.
“As of now, we have not received any reports of casualties or damage. However, our emergency operations centre is monitoring developments closely,” the spokesperson said.
Authorities have advised the public to remain cautious and report any structural damage or emergencies to the PDMA helpline at 1700.
Pakistan lies in an active seismic zone due to its proximity to the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent earthquakes.
The Hindu Kush region, in particular, is known for deep-focus earthquakes that are often felt across Pakistan and neighbouring countries.
While no aftershocks have been recorded yet, seismological experts caution that tremors of this magnitude serve as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity.
