The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported a magnitude 5.3 earthquake felt in the northern regions of the country on Friday morning.

According to a statement issued by the PMD, the earthquake was recorded at 9:53am at latitude 36.71° north and longitude 74.44° east. Its epicentre was recorded in northwestern Kashmir, 84 kilometres northeast of Gilgit, at a depth of 12km.

The statement said that tremors were reported to be felt in Gilgit, Skardu, Pattan, Balakot and surrounding areas.

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.

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in late February. Earlier that month, a 4.5-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of northern Pakistan, a day after another earthquake of magnitude 5.9 that jolted parts of KP.