5.4 magnitude earthquakes rattles Islamabad parts of Punjab, K-P

A 5.4-magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad and parts of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Monday, with no loss of life or property reported.

According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the earthquake epicentre was in the Hindu Kush region at a depth of 215 kilometres.

Tremors were felt in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Mianwali, Multan, the Potohar region and other districts of Punjab, the spokesperson said.

The PDMA director general said the relevant district administrations were inspecting buildings, adding that the provincial control room and district emergency operation centres across Punjab remained active round the clock.

He said residents could report any earthquake-related damage to the PDMA helpline at 1129.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said in a post on X that a 5.4-magnitude earthquake had been recorded, with tremors felt in Islamabad and several districts of K-P.

Tremors were reported in Peshawar, Mansehra, Swat, Battagram and Abbottabad, among other areas, prompting people to rush out of their homes.

According to Rescue 1122 K-P spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi, the emergency service remained on high alert. He urged the public to contact Rescue 1122 immediately in case of any emergency.

Read: 6 killed in central Afghanistan as strong earthquake shakes region, including Pakistan

Last month, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake also originating in the Hindu Kush region was felt across parts of K-P. Tremors were felt in Swat, Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Shangla, Buner, Malakand and adjoining areas. Within the same week, strong earthquake tremors were felt in Lahore and several districts of Punjab after a 4.9 magnitude quake struck the region.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake measured 4.9 on the Richter scale with its epicentre located in India, 37 kilometres from Kyelang. The tremors were felt in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and several other cities across Punjab.

The Hindu Kush region — where many quakes affecting Pakistan originate — lies near the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. As the Indian plate pushes northward under the Eurasian plate, the resulting friction and pressure often trigger moderate to strong earthquakes. Seismic activity in this region is common, but the depth of the quake often determines how strongly it is felt on the surface.