Strong earthquake tremors were felt across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, triggering panic among residents who rushed out of their homes while reciting prayers.
The tremors were felt in Islamabad and the Rawalpindi region. In Punjab, residents of Lahore, Mianwali and its adjoining areas, as well as Chakwal and surrounding localities, also experienced the earthquake.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the tremors were reported in Peshawar, Shangla, Buner, Mardan, Charsadda, Swat, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Malakand, Bajaur, Hangu, Lower Dir, Lower South Waziristan and nearby areas.
Earthquake tremors were also felt in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad and adjoining areas of Azad Kashmir, while residents of Diamer and surrounding areas in Gilgit-Baltistan also experienced strong shaking.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake measured 5.9 in magnitude with a depth of 178 kilometres. The epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, and the tremors were felt at 6:35 pm.
Meanwhile, the European Seismological Centre recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 6 in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.
In Peshawar, the session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was adjourned for five minutes following the earthquake.
