5.3 magnitude earthquake struck KP, Islamabad

Several cities in Pakistan, including the federal capital, were hit by 5.3 magnitude earthquake tremors early Wednesday morning.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) declared the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.1, while the Pakistan Meteorologists Department (PMD) reported a 5.3 magnitude intensity.

According to the USGS, Ishkashim town, located in a range of Hindu Kush, 37 kilometres west-southwest of Afghanistan, was an epicentre of quake—the region known for frequent seismic activities, and it had a 220.7km depth.

Various cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Abbottabad, Malakand, Kohat, Buner, Swat, Swabi and Landi Kotal, and adjoining areas, as well as Islamabad, felt the jolts, where the quake caused people to evacuate buildings.

The tremors were felt at 10:30 am (Pakistan time), according to both departments, USGS and PMD.

Earlier two months ago, the seismic region experienced a 5.7 magnitude, which jolted parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Jhang, Chiniot, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Faisalabad, and KP in June. 

The quake had also been felt in Malakand, Dera Ismail Khan. It had a longitude of 70.51 East and a latitude of 31.29 North.

The country witnessed at least six earthquakes in the year so far, of which three were recorded in the coastal city of Karachi.