5.8-magnitude earthquake jolts parts of Pakistan

Published January 9, 2026
A diagonal crack, formed in the wall of a house in Quaidabad after tremors in the area, is considered a serious sign of structural damage. Used for representation only.— Shakil Adil / White Star/File
A diagonal crack, formed in the wall of a house in Quaidabad after tremors in the area, is considered a serious sign of structural damage. Used for representation only.— Shakil Adil / White Star/File

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the country early on Friday.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 159km in the Tajikistan- Xinjiang border region at 2am.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which reports magnitude using the Moment Magnitude scale, said the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.3 and struck Tajikistan at a depth of 140km.

The United States Geological Survey said Pakistan, Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan were among the affected countries.

According to media reports, the tremors were felt in Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.

Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines means that tectonic movements remain a frequent occurrence in the region.

In October 2025, a 3.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Karachi. A month earlier, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake was felt in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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