remors from an earthquake near the China–Tajikistan border were felt across several parts of Pakistan on Friday, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, prompting residents to step outside as a precaution.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the earthquake measured 5.8 on the Richter scale. The tremor struck at a depth of 159 kilometres, with its epicentre located along the Tajikistan–China border.
In addition to the federal capital and Rawalpindi, people felt shaking in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, Shangla, and Buner. Witnesses reported brief but noticeable movement in buildings, prompting many residents to temporarily leave their homes.
Authorities reported no immediate loss of life or major structural damage.
Read: 3.3-Magnitude Earthquake Felt in Chaman, Balochistan
Seismologists said the tremors originated from a stronger earthquake measuring 6.1 in the Tajikistan–Xinjiang border region. Because of its depth, the quake generated vibrations across a wide area, including northern Pakistan.
Pakistan has experienced frequent seismic activity in recent years because it lies near the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. In October last year, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Islamabad, parts of KP, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with an epicentre in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.
The region has also faced devastating earthquakes in the past. In September, a 6.0-magnitude quake in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 people and injured thousands. Pakistan itself has endured major disasters, including the 2005 northern earthquake that claimed about 73,000 lives and the 1935 Quetta earthquake, which killed an estimated 30,000 people.
Seismic experts continue to urge preparedness, noting that moderate to strong earthquakes remain a recurring risk across Pakistan and its neighbouring regions.
