A 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad, KP, and AJK late Tuesday night, causing strong tremors but no reported casualties.
ISLAMABAD:
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck several parts of Pakistan late Tuesday night, sending tremors across Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the quake’s epicenter was located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region at a depth of around 234 kilometers.
Residents in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Swat, Malakand, Chitral, and other northern areas reported feeling strong vibrations for several seconds. In AJK, tremors were also experienced in Bhimber and surrounding districts. Many people rushed out of their homes in panic, but no loss of life or property has been reported so far.
The PMD confirmed that the quake was moderate in intensity but widely felt due to its depth and regional geography. Authorities have stated that emergency services are on alert, though no major damage has been observed in any area.
Tuesday night’s earthquake comes just days after a 5.6-magnitude tremor was recorded in northern Pakistan, highlighting ongoing seismic activity along the Hindu Kush fault line — one of the most earthquake-prone regions in South and Central Asia.
Experts say Pakistan frequently experiences tremors because it lies near the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. While deep quakes like this one usually cause minimal surface damage, they serve as a reminder for residents and officials to stay prepared for future seismic events.
