https://arab.news/wr9fe
- Pakistan is in a seismically active region, on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates
- Pakistan witnessed deadly earthquakes in 2005 and 2013 that caused widespread destruction
ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake struck northern Pakistan on Saturday, briefly shaking buildings in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and prompting residents to step outside.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
“An earthquake originated on 12-04-2025 at 12:31 PST [Pakistan Standard Time],” confirmed the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) shortly after the tremors, adding that its magnitude was 5.5 on the Richter scale.
The PMD said the quake’s epicenter was located 60 kilometers northwest of Rawalpindi at a depth of 12 kilometers.
Pakistan sits on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates and is prone to seismic activity.
The country’s northern and western regions are home to mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakoram.
Pakistan also has some of the world’s tallest peaks, including K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth.
Among the most devastating earthquakes in Pakistan’s history was the 2005 Kashmir quake, which measured 7.6 in magnitude and killed more than 86,000 people.
In 2013, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Balochistan, killing over 800 people and flattening entire villages.