ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan on Wednesday, sending tremors across northern Pakistan, including the capital, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The earthquake, which occurred at 6:27pm, was felt in cities such as Peshawar and Islamabad, according to a press release from the Pakistan Meteorological Depart­ment’s (PMD) Seismic Network.

The tremor was also felt in Swat, Malakand, Swabi, Mansehra, and other neighboring regions. The shaking reached as far as Gahkuch city in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer district.

Seismic monitoring agencies reported slightly different measurements for the event.

The PMD stated the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.3 and a depth of 110 kilometres, with its epicentre located in the Hindu Kush mountains.

The European Mediterranean Seism­ological Centre (EMSC) also reported the quake in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, with a magnitude of 5.6 at a depth of 125km.

Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) tracked the earthquake in northeast Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, 35km south of Eshkashem.

USGS data also recorded the quake, albeit with a magnitude of 5.1 and at a greater depth of 128km.

This seismic event is the latest in a string of tremors to impact northern Pakistan in recent months, mostly emanating from the tectonically active Hindu Kush region.

Last week, a strong, 5.2 magnitude earthquake jolted the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PMD said that quake also originated in the Hindu Kush region at a depth of 190 kilometres.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2025