What Happened During the 5.1-Magnitude Earthquake in Pakistan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Magnitude: The earthquake measured 5.1.
- Epicenter: Located near Rawat.
- Tremors: Felt in multiple regions including Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
- Depth: The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers.
- Public Reaction: Residents showed significant concern and evacuated their homes.
Islamabad, Aug 3 (NationPress) A 5.1-magnitude earthquake rocked multiple regions across Pakistan early on Sunday morning, affecting areas such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and surrounding regions, as reported by the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC).
The tremors were felt significantly in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as in nearby locations including Mardan, Murree, Haripur, Chakwal, Talagang, and Kallar Kahar.
The NSMC confirmed that the earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.1, with its epicenter located 15 kilometers southeast of Rawat at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.
According to local news outlets, the seismic activity occurred around 12:10 a.m., prompting residents to flee their homes while reciting the Kalima Tayyaba.
The public response to this seismic event was notable, with many individuals choosing to remain outdoors for extended periods due to concerns about potential aftershocks, as reported by ARY News.
This earthquake was the second to occur in just 24 hours.
On the previous day, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake was felt across various regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and the capital Islamabad.
The NSMC stated that the earlier quake originated in the Hindukush mountain range in Afghanistan and had a depth of 102 kilometers. Tremors were also reported in several areas of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the quake was felt in Peshawar and neighboring districts including Swat, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Dir, Mardan, Mohmand, Shangla, Hangu, Swabi, Haripur, and Abbottabad.
Several towns and cities throughout Punjab also experienced the tremors, including the twin cities, Lahore, Attock, Taxila, Murree, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Ferozwala, and Muridke.
Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties or significant damages from either earthquake.