ISLAMABAD: A strong earthquake jolts struck northern Pakistan on Monday night, sending tremors across multiple provinces and causing widespread panic, though no loss of life or property damage was immediately reported.
The quake was felt intensely throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with residents in Peshawar, Swat, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Dir, Mardan, Mohmand, Shangla, Hangu, Swabi, Haripur, and Abbottabad reporting strong jolts.
The tremors extended beyond KP, reaching the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Numerous cities across Punjab, including Lahore, Attock, Taxila, Murree, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Ferozwala, and Muridke, also felt the shaking. The effects were also reported in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, and its adjoining areas.
The sudden earthquake caused fear among the public. People were seen rushing out of their homes and offices into open spaces, many reciting verses from the Holy Quran for safety.
Despite the strong and widespread shaking, initial reports from authorities indicate that there have been no casualties or significant damage to property from the seismic event.