PESHAWAR: Earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad and northwestern parts of Pakistan, including Peshawar, Mansehra and surrounding areas.

The epicentre of the 5.2 magnitude earthquake was located in Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan and Tajikistan and at a depth of 232.4 kilometres, the USGS website said.

The intensity of the quake was higher in Mardan, Buner, Swabi and Malakand divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as compared to provincial capital Peshawar.

Buildings were evacuated and people made their way to open spaces as fear and panic gripped the areas hit by the jolts.

Pakistan straddles at part of the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making the country susceptible to quakes.

In 2013, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake devastated several areas in southwestern Balochistan province killing at least 376 people and leaving some 100,000 others homeless.

In 2005, the country was hit by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 73,000 people and left about 3.5 million homeless.