By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A strong earthquake rattled parts of Pakistan on Thursday afternoon, sending people scrambling out of their homes and offices, but causing no major damage or injuries, officials said.
The quake, which measured 6.0 on the Richter scale, struck at 2:20 p.m. local time in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, about 213 kilometers deep, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The US Geological Survey (USGS), which uses a different method to calculate magnitude, put the quake at 6.4.
The tremors were felt across a wide area, including the capital Islamabad, the eastern city of Lahore, and parts of the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where many people live in mud-brick houses that are vulnerable to collapse.
Sardar Sarfaraz, the chief meteorologist at PMD, said the quake was not likely to cause any significant damage because of its depth and distance from populated areas.
He said aftershocks were possible, as was the case with the powerful earthquake that hit Japan on January 1.
Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesperson for KP Rescue 1122, a provincial emergency service, said they had not received any reports of casualties or property damage so far.
Last week, another earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale jolted Quetta and its surrounding areas, forcing the residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in open spaces. The quake’s epicenter was also traced back to the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, according to the PMD.
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