5.8-magnitude earthquake felt in Islamabad, Pindi and KP areas

• Quake hits at depth of 159km beneath surface: NSMC
• Tremors felt in KP areas including Swat, Shangla, Buner.
• Tremors caused by 6.1 quake in Tajikistan–Xinjiang border.

Tremors from an earthquake centred near the China–Tajikistan border were felt in several parts of Pakistan, including the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, on Friday.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale.

The quake struck at a depth of 159 kilometres beneath the surface, the NSMC said, adding the epicentre was located in the border region between Tajikistan and China. 

Apart from the federal capital and the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi, tremors were also felt in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), including Swat, Shangla, Buner and surrounding districts, where people felt buildings shake and many stepped outside as a precaution.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or significant damage.

The tremor originated from an earthquake in the Tajikistan–Xinjiang border area which measured 6.1 on the Richter scale. 

On October 21 last year, an earthquake of 5.3-magnitude hit Islamabad, KP, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and their suburban areas on Tuesday night, the PMD said.

The NSMC said that the quake's epicentre was in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region and its depth was 234 kilometres.

Tremors were felt in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, KP capital Peshawar, Upper Dir, Malakand, Bajaur, Chitral, Swat, Murree, AJK's Samahni, Bhimber, and other parts.

The quake hit four days after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck KP, Islamabad and their suburban parts.

Earthquakes have frequently rattled the region, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, in recent years. Record shows seismic activity in neighbouring countries lying at the intersection of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

In September, Afghanistan witnessed a massive magnitude 6 earthquake in the rugged eastern region of the country, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring several thousand others.

Several parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Mardan, Chitral, Murree and adjoining areas also felt the tremors in the following days with reports of effects being felt as far away as Lahore.

Karachi, back in June, experienced multiple tremors, with the tally going up to at least 57 in one month.

The country has long been vulnerable to natural disasters, from the 2005 northern quake that killed 73,000 to the devastating 1935 earthquake in Quetta, which claimed around 30,000 lives.