A powerful earthquake rattled parts of Pakistan on Friday morning, sparking panic in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Swat, and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Seismologists reported the tremor at 5.5 magnitude on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located in Afghanistan’s Hindukush region.
According to the Meteorological Department, the quake struck at a depth of 195 kilometers.
Strong tremors were felt across the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as in northern and western parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Reports of severe jolts came from Peshawar, Swat, Charsadda, and Buner, where frightened residents rushed outdoors to safety.
Tremors were also experienced in Mardan and Lower Dir, while aftershocks were reported in Landikotal and adjoining areas of Khyber district.
In urban centres such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar, people evacuated buildings as the tremors rattled homes and offices.
In Swat, Chitral, and nearby mountainous regions, residents expressed serious concern over possible aftershocks due to the earthquake’s depth and location in the seismically active Hindu Kush zone.
