ISLAMABAD: A massive 6.5 magnitude earthquake jolted different parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and other regional countries on Tuesday night at 9:47 pm (Pakistan local time). Several people are reportedly injured as dozens of houses collapsed in Buner, Swat and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to the US Geological Survey, an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 rocked Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The earthquake epicenter was 40 kilometers (25 miles) south-southeast of the Afghanistan town of Jurm, near the borders with Tajikistan and Pakistan. USGS said the quake struck at a depth of more than 185 miles.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the epicenter of the earthquake was Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.
Residents of Islamabad reported buildings and vehicles shaking after the quake hit at 9:47 pm local time.
Several people sustained injuries in quake-related incidents across Pakistan; however, no death has been reported so far.
According to police, seven people were brought to the district hospital in the Timergara area of Lower Dir. The official added that most of the people were injured in a stampede during the earthquake.
In Buner, at least 40 people sustained injuries as dozens of houses reportedly collapsed during the earthquake.
Landsliding incidents were also reported in the Swat, Malakand, and Buner districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the tremors, the roof of a house caved in Jamrud. No causality was reported in the incident, the police confirmed.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has directed rescue officials and health services to stay alert to cope with the emergency situation.
In twin cities — Islamabad and Rawalpindi — cracks emerged in various high-rise commercial and residential buildings and flats, triggering panic among the residents.
The quake was felt in several Pakistani cities in the provinces of eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Earthquake tremors were felt in Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, DI Khan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Swat, and other areas of the country.
According to reports, the quake was also felt in India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China and Kyrgyzstan.
The earthquake’s effects were also felt in Lodhran, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Skardu, Toba Tek Singh, and Khanewal.
It was not immediately clear whether the tremor had caused damage or casualties. Shaking could be felt as far as the Indian capital, New Delhi, Reuters reported.
Large parts of South Asia are seismically active because a tectonic plate known as the Indian plate is pushing north into the Eurasian plate.
Keeping in view the severe earthquake, major government hospitals will remain on high alert in the federal capital.
According to a spokesperson of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the alert was issued to the hospitals on the direction of Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel.
The minister also directed the administration of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and the Federal Government Polyclinic to ensure all necessary arrangements in this regard.
Rescue teams in Lahore were also put on alert. Rescue sources said an emergency had been announced in district control rooms.
Reportedly, parts of Abbottabad faced a power outage post the earthquake.
