A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck parts of north and northwestern Pakistan on Saturday morning, the second tremor to hit the region in less than 48 hours.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre in Islamabad, the quake occurred at 9:30 am local time at a depth of 14 kilometres. The epicentre was located 11 kilometres northeast of Attock.
Tremors felt across regions
Mild tremors were reported in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The latest quake follows a stronger 5.9 magnitude tremor on Friday evening, which had its epicentre in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region at a depth of 101 kilometres. That earthquake was felt in several Pakistani cities, including Peshawar and Islamabad.
Seismically active zone
Northern Pakistan lies along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates in the Himalayan region, making it highly prone to seismic activity.
Earlier this month, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Balochistan province near Khuzdar, preceded by a 3.8 magnitude tremor on the same day. No major losses were reported in those incidents.
Pakistan’s most devastating earthquake occurred in 2005, when a powerful tremor killed nearly 74,000 people and caused widespread destruction.
While Saturday’s quake caused no reported harm, authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region.