Punjab, KP, Islamabad jolted after 5.7 magnitude earthquake

Earthquake tremors were felt in several parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islambad on Wednesday.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake was recorded at magnitude 5.7 on the Richter's scale.

However, United States Geological Survey stated that the extent of the quake was recorded at magnitude 5.4, affecting India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The Punjab cities that were jolted by the earthquake included Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Kamalia, Khanewal, Bhalwal, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Toba Tek Singh, Gujarat, Sargodha and Jhang among other cities.

Meanwhile, the KP cities included Peshawar, Swat, North Waziristan, Dera Ismail Khan, Lucky Marwat, Buner, Shangla Hill, Chitral, Lower Dir, Malakand, Tank among others.

Additionally, Punjab areas, including Vihari, Mandi Bahauddin, Chichawatni, Shorkot, Kasur, Okara, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Phool Nagar, Sahiwal, Mianwali, Talagang, Chakwal, Burewala, Mian Channu, Jahanian, Zafarwal, Bhera, Khushab, Hujra Shah Muqeem and Shahkot were rocked by the earthquake.

The earthquake, according to the PMD, originated at 12:28pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST).

The epicentre of the quake, the Met Office added, was situated near the Dera Ghazi Khan region in the southwestern part of Punjab at a depth of 10 kilometres.

The mild tremors of the earthquake were also felt in parts of India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). 

Afghanistan was also jolted by sudden tremors.

Today's tremors come nearly two weeks after a 5.4 magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and KP on August 29.

The quake in August was preceded by another one of 4.7 magnitude which jolted parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and KP in June. Earlier that month, another earthquake of 3.2 magnitude rocked Karachi.

In May, a 2.3 magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the metropolis including Gadap Town, Katohar and adjoining areas of Malir district.

Before that, a 3.2 magnitude earthquake jolted Karachi's Malir district on April 24.

It is pertinent to mention that earthquakes are not uncommon in Pakistan, as the country is situated on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Large parts of South Asia are seismically active because a tectonic plate known as the Indian plate is pushing north into the Eurasian plate.