Tremors were felt across several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday, triggering panic among residents though no immediate reports of casualties or damage have been received.
According to the National Seismological Centre, the earthquake measured 5.3 on the Richter scale. The quake struck at a depth of 230 kilometers, with its epicenter located in the Hindukush region of Afghanistan.
Residents in Peshawar, Chitral, Upper Dir, Mardan, Khyber, Malakand, Swat, Mohmand, and surrounding areas reported feeling the tremors. Many people rushed out of homes and buildings as a precaution, although the deep epicenter helped reduce the impact on the surface.
Authorities have urged citizens to stay calm but vigilant, as aftershocks may follow. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is monitoring the situation closely.
Earthquake in Noshki
Meanwhile, mild earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Balochistan near the Pak-Afghan border on Friday, according to the National Seismological Centre.
The magnitude of the quake was recorded at 4.5 on the Richter scale, with the epicentre located in the Afghan territory close to the Nushki district of Balochistan, the seismological centre said in a brief statement.
The tremors, which lasted a few seconds, caused panic among residents who rushed out of their homes and offices. However, no loss of life or property damage was reported from the affected areas.
Local authorities confirmed that emergency services were placed on alert as a precaution, though the situation remained under control.
