https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, June 27 (Alliance News): A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Islamabad and several parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Saturday, sending strong tremors across multiple cities and triggering panic among residents.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), the earthquake originated at a depth of 178 kilometres, with its epicentre located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.
Tremors were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, and several other areas. In KP, strong shaking was reported in Shangla, Buner, Swat, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Malakand, Bajaur, Hangu, Wana, and Lower Dir.
The earthquake also affected parts of Punjab, including Mianwali, Chakwal, Jhang, and surrounding areas, while tremors were reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), including Neelum Valley’s Athmuqam and Muzaffarabad.
Following the earthquake, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session was briefly adjourned for five minutes as precautionary measures were taken.
Residents in affected areas described scenes of fear and panic as people rushed out of their homes following the strong tremors. A Swat resident told Reuters that the earthquake felt intense and continued for a significant period, forcing families to leave their houses.
“There was panic among people, and women and children were seen crying,” the resident said.
No immediate reports of casualties or major property damage were received after the earthquake.
Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The country has experienced several major earthquakes in recent decades, including the devastating 2005 Azad Kashmir earthquake that killed more than 73,000 people and displaced millions.
Earlier this year, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake also affected Islamabad, Swat, and Hunza, while a 2021 earthquake in Harnai, Balochistan, killed at least 20 people and created difficulties for rescue operations due to landslides.
Experts warn that Pakistan’s mountainous terrain and earthquake-prone regions require stronger disaster preparedness, improved building standards, and effective emergency response systems to reduce future risks.
