ISLAMABAD: The inhabitants of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and various areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa felt earthquake tremors late Friday night which scared them but apart from that no casualties or damages were reported.
As per the initial reports, the earth movements started at around 2:15 a.m. and the regions affected included Mardan, Bakhshali, Swat, and the capital city. Most of the residents from the impacted regions left their places of residence and even the people on the road looked to be very scared.
The National Meteorological Department confirmed that the 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Tajikistan, which was felt across the entire northern region of Pakistan, caused the earth movements. Authorities stated that there were no casualties and no loss of property claiming that the situation has been completely returned to normal.
The officials of the government advised the public to stay alert and to follow the regular safety measures in case of such natural disasters. They also mentioned that earthquakes are not frequent, but they are natural occurrences and sometimes they can be felt even far from their epicenters.
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Earthquake tremors felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi
On December 19, the 5.7 magnitude quake was felt by people in Islamabad and surrounding areas on Friday.
The seismic department reported that the quake’s focus was at a depth of 35 kilometers, with the epicentre being located 35 kilometers deep in the Hindokash region. A majority of the residents who came out of their houses after the tremor were reported to be offering prayers and supplications to God. At first, there was no news of any fatalities or injuries, nor was there any report of damage to the property. 5.7 magnitude earthquake jolts Swat, Lower Dir, no casualties reported
Meanwhile, the Seismological Center reports the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale, with the epicentre located 35 kilometres deep. The tremors were so strong that people throughout the area left their homes in the middle of the night to ensure their safety, and some even recited “Kalma Tayyiba” (the Islamic declaration of faith) to calm their nerves.
It is said by the local officials that there are no casualties or damages so far in the area. The rescue teams are off duty and ready to take action if they receive any calls from people in the situation of the aftershocks or any other kind of damage.
At present, everything is okay, and the police are keeping an eye on the district for any more earthquakes.
