Tremors: Moderate quake jolts northern parts of country

Areas jolted by the earthquake include Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Chitral and adjacent areas.

ISLAMABAD:

An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale was felt in the northern parts of Pakistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Monday morning.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Arif Mehmood Director General Met office said the epicentre of the earthquake was in Tajikistan, around 530 km north of Islamabad with 89 km depth.

Severe tremors were felt in North Waziristan, Mansehra, Chitral and adjacent areas while moderate ones were felt in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. No loss of life or property was reported. The Met office termed the earthquake moderate in the seismically active zone with no forecast of aftershocks.

DG Met said people should rush towards open places upon feeling the tremors of an earthquake and should avoid being around buildings.

He said electric and gas connections should be disconnected immediately. He suggested that as a precautionary measure first-aid kits should be available at home to handle such emergency situations.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2011.