Earthquake of 5.3 magnitude rocks northern Pakistan

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake rocked parts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region in northern Pakistan, including the provincial capital of Peshawar on Saturday, triggering panic among residents, according to media reports.

The earthquake struck around 6.15 pm along the Afghan-Tajikistan border, with tremors being felt in Swat, Peshawar, Lower Dir, Swabi, Nowshera, Chitral, Mardan, Bajaur, Malakand, Pabbi, Akora, the capital city of Islamabad and its surroundings, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said.

Gripped by fear and panic, scores of residents scampered out of their homes to seek refuge in safer places, the Dawn newspaper reported.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, there have been no reports of loss of lives or property so far. On December 8, parts of Karachi were jolted by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake.

The earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was felt in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, but there were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)