Twin Earthquakes Jolt Northern Pakistan, Panic Spreads Across Cities
ISLAMABAD (Sept 5, 2025): Mild to moderate earthquakes shook parts of northern Pakistan twice within 12 hours, forcing thousands of residents to rush out of their homes in panic.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck late Thursday night, jolting Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tremors were also felt across Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Widespread Tremors Reported
The PMD’s Seismic and Tsunami Monitoring Centre said the epicentre was located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region at a depth of 111 kilometres.
Shocks were reported in:
-
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Bajaur, Malakand, Charsadda, North Waziristan, Kohat, Abbottabad, and Swat.
-
Punjab: Mianwali, Chakwal, Talagang, Kallar Kahar, and Multan.
-
Azad Kashmir: Neelum Valley and Dhirkot.
Residents in many cities, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, rushed outdoors as homes and buildings shook. Fortunately, no casualties or property damage have been reported so far.
Afghanistan Also Hit Hard
The region has seen frequent seismic activity in recent days. In neighbouring Afghanistan, the weekend’s powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake turned deadly, claiming more than 2,200 lives in Kunar province alone, with over 3,600 injured.
Experts note that the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region lies on the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world.
