Late on Tuesday, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5, originating in Afghanistan, caused devastation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving a tragic toll of nine fatalities and 44 individuals wounded, as reported by a government official.
Abdul Basit, a senior official in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, informed Reuters on Wednesday that the earthquake had caused partial damage to 19 houses in the affected area.
The tremors from the earthquake predominantly felt in the northern regions of Pakistan, encompassing cities such as Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Haripur, Mardan, Chitral, Charsadda, other adjoining areas.
The seismic tremors reverberated through various towns in Punjab, causing a stir among the residents. Fortunately, there is no casualties reports in the aftermath of the earthquake. The impact was felt across Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal, Okara, and several other metropolises, leaving the locals shaken and alarmed.
According to the US Geological Survey, an earthquake with a depth of 187 kilometers was located near Jurm town in the Hindukush region of north-eastern Afghanistan.
In the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), the earth shook vigorously as an earthquake struck with great force. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the quake measured a magnitude of 6.8, while the USGS reported it as 6.5. The aftershocks caused landslides that instilled a sense of dread among the locals. Fortunately, there have been no reports of any casualties so far.
Rescue 1122 has reported that a cattle farm in Yasin Ghizer has suffered severe damage due to the landslides caused by the earthquake, resulting in the loss of livestock. Meanwhile, videos from Islamabad have surfaced, showing the terror-stricken residents, particularly those residing in high-rise buildings, hastily evacuating their homes while reciting the sacred Kalma Tayyaba.
According to the spokesperson of Afghanistan’s health ministry, three individuals lost their lives in the Laghman province, including a child, as a result of the earthquake that struck near the country’s border with Pakistan. The incident occurred when many families were away from their homes, observing the Persian New Year or Nowruz festivities.
The relief and rescue work in the affected areas may be imped due to the challenging terrain and distance. Landslides caused a blockage on the highway in the worst-affected Swat area, while phone lines have also been impacted in the region, particularly in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has urged disaster agencies to take immediate action to assist those affected.
The earthquake tremors felt across a vast area of over 1,000 km, including countries such as India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, as reported by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.
