5.5 magnitude earthquake shakes northern Pakistan, no casualties reported

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck parts of northern Pakistan on Saturday, sending tremors through major cities including Rawalpindi, Islamabad and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The quake was recorded at 12:31 p.m. local time and originated 60 kilometers northwest of Rawalpindi. The PMD said the depth was 12 kilometers, making it a shallow earthquake likely to be widely felt.

Tremors were reported in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Hassan Abdal, Mianwali, Gujrat, and Gujar Khan, as well as KP districts including Nowshera, Swabi and Charsadda.

"The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.5 and its epicenter was located at latitude 33.90°N and longitude 72.66°E," said a PMD spokesperson.

Residents across affected cities rushed outdoors, leaving homes and offices during the brief but noticeable shaking.

Inspection in Islamabad

In Islamabad, the earthquake prompted immediate field deployment of emergency teams. On the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon, all assistant commissioners, accompanied by rescue staff, visited various parts of the city to assess the situation on the ground.

Special inspections were conducted at high-rise buildings to check for any signs of structural damage. Officials confirmed that no loss of life or property had been reported in the capital.

“The situation is under control. Citizens are requested to immediately report any damage or emergency,” said DC Islamabad.

Emergency services on high alert in KP

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emergency services were placed on alert. Rescue 1122 in Nowshera confirmed that earthquake shocks were felt in the district and surrounding regions.

“All rescue teams are on high alert and ready to respond to any emergency situation,” said District Emergency Officer Malik Ashfaq Hussain. “As of now, no emergency calls have been received by our control room.”

Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and follow standard safety procedures during aftershocks, if any occur.

Pakistan sits on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates and is prone to seismic activity. In 2005, a devastating earthquake killed more than 80,000 people in the country’s north.

In December last year, a 5.1 magnitude quake struck Punjab province, with tremors felt in Lahore and surrounding areas.