ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and surrounding areas in the early hours of Sunday, triggering panic among residents as people rushed out of their homes for safety.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the tremor struck around 0:10 AM on Sunday with a depth of 10 kilometres.
The epicentre was located 15 kilometres east-southeast of Rawat, near Islamabad, at coordinates 33.45°N latitude and 73.31°E longitude.
Residents in Islamabad and Rawalpindi reported feeling strong tremors, which lasted several seconds and caused panic. However, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Earlier on Saturday, the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) reported an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, originating from the Hindu Kush region at a depth of 122 kilometres. The epicentre was approximately 102 kilometres from Bajaur.
The tremors from this earlier quake were felt across a wide area, including Lahore, Peshawar, Haripur, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Mingora (Swat), Hazara Division, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Reports also confirmed tremors in parts of Hatian Bala, Jhelum Valley, Chinari, and as far as Ghizer and neighbouring regions in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
The Hindu Kush mountain range, which spans northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a known hotspot for seismic activity due to the complex tectonic interaction between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Moderate to strong earthquakes in this region are not uncommon and often felt over large distances due to the depth at which they occur.
