A 5.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Pakistan on Wednesday afternoon, sending tremors across northern India, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan. The quake, which was reported by the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), struck at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the earth’s surface.
Tremors were felt in major cities, including Peshawar, Islamabad, and Lahore in Pakistan, as well as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir in India. The National Center for Seismology confirmed that the earthquake hit Pakistan at 12:58 PM IST.
While reports of any significant damage or casualties are still pending, many residents in affected areas took to social media to share their experiences, posting videos of shaking furniture and swaying ceiling fans. A user in Bikaner, Rajasthan, reported, “The tremors were strong in Delhi NCR.” However, these claims have not been independently verified.
Recent Seismic Activity
This event marks the second time in two weeks that tremors have been felt in the Delhi-NCR region. On August 29, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake originating in Afghanistan also caused mild tremors in the area.
Delhi, located in Seismic Zone IV, is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its proximity to the active seismic zones near the Himalayas. The region is situated along the Delhi-Hardwar Ridge, a significant geological structure linked to the Aravali Mountain range and extending towards the Himalayas.
Earthquakes in Pakistan
Pakistan has been no stranger to earthquakes this year. In June, a 4.7-magnitude quake jolted parts of the country, including Islamabad. No significant damage or casualties were reported at that time. The country lies on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it highly seismically active.
Pakistan’s most devastating earthquake occurred in 2005 when a 7.4-magnitude tremor claimed over 74,000 lives, primarily in the Kashmir region.
As large parts of South Asia lie on active fault lines, including the Indian tectonic plate’s collision with the Eurasian plate, earthquakes in this region are a common occurrence.
While no major damage has been reported in the latest quake, authorities are closely monitoring the situation for further developments.
(With contributions from news agencies.)