A 4.8-magnitude earthquake shook several cities across Punjab and Islamabad on Tuesday evening, resulting in the death of a 13-year-old boy and causing damage to numerous houses in the Jhelum district. Rescue teams confirmed the fatality occurred when a house collapsed in the Jalalpur Sharif area of Jhelum.
Authorities also reported structural damage to homes in Pind Dadan Khan and nearby localities. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NMSC) recorded the earthquake at 7:06 pm, noting it struck at a depth of 12 kilometers. The epicenter was pinpointed 58 kilometers southwest of Jhelum, at coordinates 32.59°N latitude and 73.23°E longitude.
Tremors from the quake were felt across Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Okara, Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin, and surrounding regions, triggering widespread panic among residents. Pakistan’s vulnerability to seismic activity is largely due to its position along the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
In a significant development earlier this year, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake affected Islamabad, Swat, and Hunza in February. Historically, Pakistan has endured devastating earthquakes, including the 2005 Azad Kashmir quake that claimed over 73,000 lives and displaced millions. More recently, in 2021, Balochistan’s Harnai region experienced a deadly earthquake that killed at least 20 people and complicated rescue efforts due to landslides.
Experts emphasize that the challenging terrain in Pakistan’s earthquake-prone zones complicates relief operations and underscores the importance of preparedness to mitigate future disasters.
