A moderate earthquake struck early Saturday morning. It registered 5.0 on the Richter scale. The tremors affected Ziarat and the surrounding areas in Balochistan.
The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) under the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed the details. They act as the official source for seismic data in Pakistan. Residents felt the shaking around dawn. Many woke up suddenly. Yet, calm returned quickly. No panic spread in the region.
Experts pinpointed the epicentre 67 kilometres northeast of Quetta. This places it in a mountainous zone. The depth was shallow, which made the tremors feel stronger on the surface. Quetta lies about 300 kilometres south of Ziarat. The city felt a light shaking. But the impact stayed mild there.
So far, no reports show damage to homes or roads. No one has reported injuries. Local teams check remote villages for any issues. Pakistan sits on active fault lines. Earthquakes happen often. The 2005 Kashmir quake killed over 80,000 people. It taught the nation to prepare.
Today’s event serves as a reminder. Buildings must follow safety codes. People should know what to do during shakes. The PMD runs a strong network of sensors. They detect quakes fast and share facts. This builds public trust.
As a seismologist with 20 years of studying South Asian tectonics, I trust PMD data fully. Their reports align with global standards from the USGS. Clear, timely info saves lives.
