Strong Earthquake Shakes Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Several Other Cities

ISLAMABAD: A powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.1 struck several cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and surrounding areas late on Thursday night, causing panic among residents. The tremors were felt at around 12:10 AM.

In addition to the twin cities, areas like Attock, Swabi, Zafarwal, and several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, Shangla, Buner, and Malakand, also experienced significant shaking. Other regions affected included Manshera, Battagram, Kohistan, Murree, Jhelum, and parts of Azad Kashmir.

According to the Seismological Center, the earthquake’s epicenter was located 15 kilometers southeast of Rawat, with a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the surface. The earthquake’s magnitude of 5.1 caused considerable concern, as the tremors were strong enough to be felt across a wide radius.

This follows a similar earthquake on the previous day, where a 5.4 magnitude quake had also been recorded in Islamabad and several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, further heightening fears of seismic activity in the region.

The authorities are urging residents to remain cautious and be prepared for possible aftershocks.