Strong Earthquake Hits Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Aftershocks Felt Widely
ISLAMABAD: A 6.0-magnitude earthquake shook Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa early Monday, with tremors felt as far away as Lahore, causing panic among residents.
The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed the quake struck at 12:18 a.m., with its epicentre located 15 kilometres deep in the Hindu Kush mountains of southeastern Afghanistan.
Strong jolts were reported in Peshawar, Mardan, Murree, Chakwal, Taxila, Wah Cantt, and other nearby cities. Residents rushed out of homes and offices in fear, though no major damage or casualties have been reported so far.
Aftershocks Continue
Following the main quake, several aftershocks were recorded, including a 4.6-magnitude tremor at 12:38 a.m. Cities affected by these subsequent tremors include Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Chitral, and Peshawar, while people in Hangu, Malakand, Swat, Mansehra, and Abbottabad also reported feeling the shakes.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious, avoid unsafe buildings, and stay updated on further alerts as monitoring continues. Rescue teams and local authorities are actively assessing conditions.
Recent Earthquake Activity
This follows a similar seismic event on August 3, when a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Rawat shortly after midnight. That tremor affected Attock, Swabi, Zafarwal, and northern areas including Swat, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan, and Murree, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The PMD emphasizes the need for preparedness in quake-prone areas and recommends that residents remain vigilant during aftershocks.
