A strong earthquake of 5.9 magnitude was felt across Lahore, Islamabad, and several nearby areas, triggering panic as people rushed out of homes, offices, and shopping malls on Saturday.
No immediate reports of casualties or major damage have emerged so far. Authorities are assessing the situation and have urged the public to remain calm and stay alert for possible aftershocks.
Tremors were also felt in Chakwal, Charsadda, Mianwali, Swat, Karak, and Shangla, sending thousands of residents rushing out of homes, offices, and shopping centres in panic.
The earthquake struck at approximately 6:35 AM, with its epicentre located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region at a depth of 178 kilometres. The considerable depth allowed the tremors to be felt across a wide area of Pakistan. Despite the panic, no casualties or major structural damage have been reported, and authorities continue to monitor the situation while advising citizens to remain alert for possible aftershocks.
The latest earthquake comes as Balochistan experiences an unusual sequence of seismic events. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), five earthquakes have been recorded in the province since yesterday, raising concerns among residents and prompting closer monitoring by disaster management authorities.
The most recent tremor in Balochistan measured 5.2 on the Richter scale and struck Barkhan and surrounding areas, with the epicentre located within Barkhan district.
Explaining the ongoing seismic activity, Ameer Haider Laghari, Director of the National Seismic Centre Karachi, said that Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lie on the Eurasian tectonic plate, where the recent earthquakes have occurred. He noted that stress building along this tectonic boundary is responsible for the current series of tremors.
Laghari further explained that seismic events occurring elsewhere in the world can sometimes influence stress levels on interconnected tectonic plates. Referring to the recent major earthquake in Venezuela, he said the release of underground energy may have contributed to increased tectonic pressure, potentially triggering seismic activity in other connected regions.
He cautioned that additional earthquakes cannot be ruled out until the accumulated geological stress beneath the Eurasian plate is gradually released. However, he stressed that science still cannot accurately predict the exact time, location, or magnitude of an earthquake, making preparedness the only effective defence against future seismic events.
Disaster management authorities have urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information, remain calm, and follow official safety guidelines should further tremors occur.
