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QUETTA / ISLAMABAD: A 5.9- magnitude earthquake originating in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region sent light to moderate tremors across Pakistan on Saturday, while a series of quakes in Balochistan damaged homes and injured several people over two days.
The Hindu Kush earthquake struck at 6:35pm, shaking Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Shangla, Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rawalpindi, Chakwal and the Pothohar region in Punjab as well as Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was very huge here in Swat and it lasted for quite a long time,” Daniyal Ahmad, a resident of Swat district, said. “People came out of their houses and women and children were seen crying in panic.”
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported no immediate casualties or major infrastructure damage.
The NDMA said the earthquake originated at a considerable depth of 178 kilometres, allowing tremors to spread over a wide area while limiting the intensity of ground shaking at the surface. Experts said the event was caused by the continued northward movement of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.
In Afghanistan, the country’s authorities said checks for casualties and damage were ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in Balochistan reported that the two earthquakes had struck Tehsil Kingri in Musakhail district on Friday and Saturday.
According to the district administration, the first tremor on Friday affected the village of Chaap, partially damaging 80 to 90 houses and leaving six people with minor injuries. On Saturday, another earthquake hit Tehsil Kingri, damaging 25 to 35 houses and injuring 10 to 13 individuals.
Preliminary joint assessments indicate around 110 to 125 houses were partially damaged, while 18 to 19 people suffered minor injuries over the two days.
No fatalities have been reported till Saturday evening.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief Saturday over the losses in Musakhail, extending his heartfelt sympathies to the affected families.
PM Shehbaz directed the NDMA and the Balochistan provincial government to accelerate rescue and relief operations immediately. He ordered authorities to provide immediate assistance to residents of damaged houses and ensure the best medical care for the injured.
With input from agencies
Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2026
