5.9-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Islamabad, Lahore and Several Other Cities Across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Strong earthquake tremors were felt across Islamabad and several other parts of Pakistan on Saturday, triggering panic among residents who rushed out of homes and buildings.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake measured 5.9 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, at a depth of 191 kilometers.

The tremors were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Chakwal, Talagang, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and several other cities across Punjab.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, residents of Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Lower Dir, Shangla, Buner, Chitral, Charsadda, and Hangu also experienced the quake.

The earthquake was also felt across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Poonch, Bagh, Mirpur, Kotli, and surrounding areas.

The tremors caused panic among the public, with many people reciting prayers as they evacuated buildings and gathered in open spaces. The session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was temporarily suspended for five minutes following the quake.

The latest earthquake comes a day after three separate tremors struck various parts of Balochistan. In the Musakhel district, several people were injured and multiple houses were damaged due to the previous day’s seismic activity.