ISLAMABAD – A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale was felt in Islamabad and several cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Monday, prompting residents to leave their homes and offices in panic.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake originated in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region and occurred at a depth of 215 kilometres.
Tremors were reported in Islamabad, Peshawar, Buner, Bajaur, Faisalabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Khushab, Battagram, Mansehra, Swat, and Abbottabad, among other areas.
Residents in several cities rushed outdoors and recited prayers as the tremors were felt.
Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.
The latest earthquake comes days after similar tremors were recorded in various parts of the country, reflecting the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity due to its proximity to major tectonic fault lines.
Pakistan frequently experiences earthquakes, particularly in its northern and western regions, which lie along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
