Twin cities jolted by 4.8 magnitude quake

Published February 15, 2025
The location of the earthquake on February 15 according to data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department. — Screengrab via Google Maps
The location of the earthquake on February 15 according to data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department. — Screengrab via Google Maps

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake was felt in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Saturday.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake was recorded eight kilometres southeast of Rawalpindi at 10:48pm and had a depth of 17km.

No casualties have been reported as of yet.

A Dawn.com correspondent reported that the tremors spread panic within the twin cities, with people coming out of their homes and business centres.

Tremors were felt in various cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as Islamabad in November after a quake jolted Afghanistan’s Badakhshan region.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.1, while the PMD reported it as having a 5.3 magnitude.

The USGS said the quake’s centre was located 37km west-southwest of Afghanistan’s Ishkashim town and had a 220.7km depth.

The earthquake struck at 10:13am (Pakistan time), both the USGS and PMD confirmed.

Opinion

Editorial

US asylum freeze
Updated 05 Dec, 2025

US asylum freeze

IT is clear that the Trump administration is using last week’s shooting incident, in which two National Guard...
Colours of Basant
05 Dec, 2025

Colours of Basant

THE mood in Lahore is unmistakably festive as the city prepares for Basant’s colourful kites to once again dot the...
Karachi’s death holes
05 Dec, 2025

Karachi’s death holes

THE lidless manholes in Karachi lay bare the failure of the city administration to provide even the bare necessities...
Protection for all
Updated 04 Dec, 2025

Protection for all

ACHIEVING true national cohesion is not possible unless Pakistanis of all confessional backgrounds are ensured their...
Growing trade gap
04 Dec, 2025

Growing trade gap

PAKISTAN’S merchandise exports have been experiencing a pronounced decline for the last several months, with...
Playing both sides
04 Dec, 2025

Playing both sides

THERE has been yet another change in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The PML-N’s regional...