A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Pakistan on Wednesday morning, causing tremors across Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab. The earthquake, centered in the Hindukush mountain range in Afghanistan, had a depth of 220 kilometers, according to Pakistan’s National Seismic Monitoring Center. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported a 5.3 magnitude, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded it as a 5.1-magnitude quake.
The tremor, which struck at 10:13 am (local time), led to brief panic as people evacuated their homes and buildings. No casualties or major damages have been reported so far, but officials are closely monitoring the situation.
Pakistan, situated in a seismically active region, frequently experiences earthquakes, particularly in its mountainous areas. In 2005, the country faced a devastating 7.6-magnitude quake that resulted in over 74,000 fatalities, primarily in northern Pakistan.