Earthquake Jolts Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Northern Areas of Pakistan

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi and its suburban areas on Saturday night, however, no casualty or damage was reported.

The tremors were also felt in Murree and some parts of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) region, including Balouch, Dhirkot and its adjoining areas.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.1, while the PMD reported it as a 5.3 magnitude.

The USGS said the quake’s centre was located 37km west-southwest of Afghanistan’s Ishkashim town and had a 220.7km depth.

The earthquake struck at 10:13am (Pakistan time), both the USGS and PMD confirmed.

The epicentre of the quake was around eight kilometres southeast of Rawalpindi and its depth was reported at 17 kilometres, it added.

In November last year, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake shook the federal capital, Islamabad, and several areas of neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, a region known for frequent seismic activity.