5.8 magnitude earthquake jolts parts of country

Published January 5, 2023
This image shows citizens standing outside after feeling earthquake tremors in Mansehra. — DawnNewsTV
This image shows citizens standing outside after feeling earthquake tremors in Mansehra. — DawnNewsTV

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the country on Thursday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The PMD’s National Seismic Monitoring Centre said the earthquake struck at 7:25pm in the Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan at a depth of 173km. It had a longitude of 70.60 East and a latitude of 36.53 North.

However, the US Geological Survey said that the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.9 and it had struck 43km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan.

DawnNewsTV reported that tremors were felt in Islamabad and Peshawar as well as in several other cities of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Reuters, strong shaking was also felt in parts of Afghanistan, including the capital, Kabul, and as far away as New Delhi.

A day earlier, an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale hit Lahore and other cities of Punjab around 3:04pm (PST).

The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) confirmed that tremors were felt in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Muridke, Farooqabad, Gujranwala, Sharaqpur, Jaranwala and other areas of Punjab. The epicentre of the earthquake was 20km away from Sheikhupura, it said.

According to some of the Lahore residents, they heard a humming sound before the earthquake. However, no casualty was reported.


Additional input from Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.