5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Islamabad, Peshawar and Parts of KP

A moderate 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted northern Pakistan on Saturday morning, with strong tremors reported in the federal capital Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the quake’s epicentre was located in Afghanistan’s seismically active Hindu Kush mountain region at a depth of approximately 199 kilometres. The significant depth classified it as an intermediate-focus earthquake, which typically causes widespread shaking over long distances but results in limited surface damage.

Residents in Islamabad, Peshawar, Swat, Chitral, Hangu, North Waziristan, Abbottabad, Mardan and other areas described the tremors lasting several seconds, prompting many to rush out of homes and offices in panic. Social media platforms were quickly filled with reports of the shaking.

No casualties or structural damage have been reported so far in Pakistan. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, with initial assessments indicating the event caused no major impact on infrastructure.

The Hindu Kush region, lying near the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is known for frequent deep earthquakes. Similar events in recent months have repeatedly sent tremors into northern Pakistan and beyond.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority has advised residents to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols in case of aftershocks, though none of significant magnitude have been recorded yet.

This latest seismic activity serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability, even as deep-focus quakes like today’s often spare populated areas from heavy destruction.