Earthquake Shakes Northern Pakistan

Early Friday morning, light to moderate earthquake tremors were experienced in Bajaur, North Waziristan, and Abbottabad. The seismic activity stirred panic as residents, many of whom were asleep, quickly evacuated their residences.

This recent event marks the second earthquake occurrence in northern Pakistan within a span of fewer than twelve hours.

On Thursday night, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake impacted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and various regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as reported by the National Seismic and Tsunami Monitoring Centre, a division of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The seismological centre determined that the earthquake’s point of origin was located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, recorded at a depth of 111 kilometers.

Reports indicated that tremors were felt in Peshawar, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Shabqadar, Charsadda, and Parachinar, along with Nowshera, Hangu, and Kohat. Moreover, the effects were also felt in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swat, and Attock.

In Punjab, areas including Mianwali, Chakwal, Talagang, Kallar Kahar, and neighboring localities experienced the earthquake’s impact, with Multan also reporting similar tremors. The strong jolts in Islamabad and Rawalpindi led many residents to seek safety outdoors.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, residents in Neelum Valley and Dhirkot felt the seismic activity. As of now, there are no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan region is prone to earthquakes due to its location at the intersection of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

In Afghanistan, the number of fatalities from a significant earthquake that affected the eastern part of the nation recently increased to over 2,200, making it the deadliest earthquake to strike the country in recent decades.

The majority of deaths resulting from the magnitude-6.0 earthquake, which struck the mountainous region bordering Pakistan on Sunday, occurred in Kunar province, where 2,205 individuals lost their lives and 3,640 sustained injuries, according to figures provided by the Taliban government.