According to a report on Tuesday, parts of Pakistan were jolted by a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake tremors were felt in various areas of the country, including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Kohat, and Lakki Marwat.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake’s epicenter was located in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, and its depth was 180 kilometers.
The quake was also felt in numerous Pakistani cities, including Peshawar, Swabi, Lodhran, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Skardu, Kohat, Toba Tek Singh, Parachinar, Nowshera, and Khanewal. Reuters reported that shaking from the earthquake was felt as far away as New Delhi, the capital city of India.
Large parts of South Asia are known for their seismic activity, due to the Indian plate’s northward push into the Eurasian plate.
As the earthquake hit, people ran out of their homes and were reciting the Quran, according to an AFP correspondent in Rawalpindi.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
Witnesses reported feeling a powerful earthquake that lasted for at least 30 seconds across much of Pakistan on Tuesday night. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, a 6.8-magnitude quake also struck Afghanistan.
As the earthquake hit, people ran out of their houses and some were even reciting the Koran, an AFP correspondent in Rawalpindi reported. Similar reports came from the capital Islamabad, Lahore, and other parts of the country.
Residents of Islamabad and other affected regions were fearful as strong tremors rocked the area, prompting them to evacuate their homes.
The earthquake also caused panic in northern India, including Delhi-NCR, where people rushed out of their buildings as the structures shook.