Peshawar (Khyber Point)A 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook Islamabad and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, sending residents rushing out of homes and offices in fear. According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the quake struck at a depth of 195 kilometers, with its epicenter located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.
Tremors were felt in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as in Peshawar, Swat, Malakand, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Mardan’s Rustam area, and Chitral. Eyewitnesses reported that many residents recited prayers and evacuated buildings as the ground shook, reviving memories of past destructive quakes in the region.
Despite the intensity, no casualties or property damage were immediately reported in Pakistan. However, the tremors caused widespread panic, highlighting the vulnerability of the northern belt to seismic activity. Experts note that the Hindu Kush zone is among the most seismically active regions in the world, frequently generating quakes felt across Pakistan, Afghanistan, and northern India.
This quake comes shortly after a series of tremors in Afghanistan earlier this month, which caused significant destruction, leaving dozens dead and injuring many. Hundreds of houses were damaged, and survivors were forced to spend nights in the open due to safety concerns.
Authorities in Pakistan have urged citizens to remain vigilant, but reassured that no emergency alerts have been issued so far. Disaster management teams remain on standby, monitoring the situation closely.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of earthquake preparedness in densely populated urban centers like Islamabad and Peshawar, where infrastructure vulnerabilities pose potential risks during strong seismic events.
