Pakistan shudders as powerful 5.8 magnitude earthquake strikes

An earth-shattering earthquake of 5.8 magnitude jolted Pakistan this Saturday, sending residents into a frenzied panic as cities shook, though no loss of life or property has been reported. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre disclosed that the tremor’s epicenter lay close to the Afghanistan and Tajikistan border in the formidable Hindukush mountain range.

The quake, deep-seated at 196 kilometers, rattled prominent cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. This unexpected disturbance sent people racing out of their homes in terror, although there have been no reports of any damages or casualties.

Earthquake’s Epicenter Near Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush Region

Pakistan Escapes Major Damage as 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes. Photo courtesy of Tumisu from Pixabay.

India‘s NDTV also reported tremors felt in its capital, the northern parts of the country, and occupied Kashmir. Pakistan’s Punjab disaster management authority, in response, has issued an alert, thoroughly checking buildings and preparing staff and machinery to handle potential aftershocks. A correspondent from Dawn News in Peshawar reported locals abandoning their homes and shops in fear.

This quake marks the third seismic event felt in northern Pakistan, as per the US Geological Survey (USGS) data. Earlier in the day, a 4.1 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Tajikistan was recorded, followed by a 5.0 magnitude tremor with its epicenter in KP’s Shangla.

It’s worth noting that earthquakes are no strangers to Pakistan. The country witnessed one of the deadliest quakes in 2005 near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in a catastrophic death toll exceeding 74,000. Nonetheless, despite the considerable magnitude of the current quake, Pakistan seems to have evaded a major disaster.