ISLAMABAD: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan at 6:35pm Pakistan Time (PKT) on Saturday, sending light to moderate tremors across Islamabad, the Pothohar region of Punjab and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
NDMA’s initial assessment revealed that the earthquake originated at a depth of 178 kilometres, allowing it to be felt over a wide area despite relatively moderate surface shaking, while no casualties or major infrastructure damage had been reported as of the latest update.
Experts said the earthquake originated within the Hindu Kush intermediate depth seismic zone, one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
The event was caused by the continued northward convergence of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, where deep tectonic deformation frequently generates intermediate focus earthquakes.
The tremors were felt in Islamabad Capital Territory, Rawalpindi, Chakwal and the Pothohar region of Punjab, as well as Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Shangla and Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the Authority, the earthquake registered Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) IV, indicating light to moderate shaking that is generally felt indoors by many people but is unlikely to cause structural damage.
The authority said the earthquake’s considerable focal depth of 178 kilometres enabled the tremors to spread across a broad geographical area while limiting the intensity of ground shaking at the surface.
The NDMA said it was continuing to monitor the situation, adding that no immediate reports of casualties, injuries or significant damage to infrastructure had been received.
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