5.6-magnitude earthquake jolts KP, Punjab; tremors felt in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Friday, with tremors felt in several cities including Peshawar and Islamabad.

According to the seismological centre, the quake’s epicentre was located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region at a depth of 73 kilometres. No immediate reports of casualties or damage were received.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tremors were felt in Malakand and Lower Dir, while residents of Hangu, Kohat, Bajaur and Swat also experienced the quake.

Shaking was also reported in Buner, Shangla, North Waziristan, Swabi and Upper Dir, causing panic among residents who rushed out of their homes and offices.

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Pakistan’s vulnerability to earthquakes stems from its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The country has witnessed several devastating earthquakes in recent decades.

On January 19, 2025, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Islamabad, Swat and Hunza. In 2005, a powerful quake in Azad Kashmir killed more than 73,000 people and left millions homeless. Balochistan also suffered significant losses in 2021 when a quake in Harnai claimed at least 20 lives and hampered rescue operations due to landslides.

Experts warn that the rugged terrain of Pakistan’s earthquake-prone regions complicates relief efforts, making preparedness and rapid response critical as seismic risks persist.