On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck the cities of Rawalpindi and Peshawar, causing concern but resulting in no reported loss of life or property damage. The tremor was centred 15 kilometres east-southeast of Rawat, near Rawalpindi, and occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
A quake struck at approximately 12:10 AM, with tremors felt across Punjab, including Gujrat, Jhelum, and Islamabad, as well as in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The epicentre was located near the seismically active Rawat Fault in the Potohar Plateau, which is influenced by the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Despite reaching level V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, there were no reported casualties or structural damage.
Read: 5.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Across KP, Punjab, and Azad Kashmir
Pakistan, situated at the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is prone to earthquakes. This event follows a 5.4-magnitude quake on August 2, 2025, centred in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, which also shook Rawalpindi and Peshawar without causing damage. Experts warn of potential aftershocks due to the region’s active fault lines.
The NDMA urges residents to secure furniture, maintain emergency kits, and identify safe spots to prepare for future quakes. Authorities are monitoring the situation, with no immediate reports of infrastructure issues.
