ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted the federal capital Islamabad and several cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab on Saturday, causing widespread panic but no reported loss of life or property.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), the tremors were felt across a wide region including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Swat, Mansehra, Swabi, Mardan, Lakki Marwat, and several other cities in KP. In Punjab, cities such as Karak, Chiniot, Mianwali, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sangla Hill, Safdarabad, Pindi Bhattian, and Attock also experienced shaking.
The epicenter of the earthquake was reported to be northwest of Rawalpindi at a shallow depth of 12 kilometers, making the tremors more noticeable across the region. Due to the shallow depth and magnitude, people in affected areas felt strong jolts that prompted many to rush outdoors.
Residents, startled by the sudden shaking, evacuated buildings and homes in fear, with many reciting the Kalma-e-Tayyaba as a protective prayer. The tremors, although brief, led to temporary chaos in marketplaces, schools, and residential areas. However, emergency services and local authorities confirmed that there were no immediate reports of injuries, casualties, or significant structural damage.
Experts warn that shallow earthquakes, even with moderate magnitudes like 5.5, can be felt over large areas and have the potential to cause damage, especially in densely populated urban centers. Fortunately, in this case, the tremors passed without incident, though the psychological impact was evident among the population.
Meanwhile, in a separate and far more devastating seismic event, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, one of the strongest the country has seen in a century. The powerful quake caused extensive destruction across a region home to nearly 28 million people. Buildings, including hospitals and schools, were flattened, leaving tens of thousands without shelter, food, or clean water.
The World Health Organization has raised alarms over a rising risk of disease outbreaks, particularly cholera, in the hardest-hit areas such as Mandalay, Sagaing, and the capital Naypyitaw. Last year, Mandalay experienced a cholera outbreak, and the current crisis, exacerbated by the destruction of nearly half the health facilities in the quake zone, threatens to trigger a repeat.
The WHO is preparing $1 million in emergency relief supplies, including medical kits and body bags, as aid organizations scramble to provide support in the wake of the disaster.
