PESHAWAR: An earthquake measuring 5.8 on Richter Scale jolted Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and northern areas on Monday morning.
Meteorological Department has informed that the epicenter of the quake was 157 kilometers below the surface of earth in Afghanistan’s Hindukush mountain range.
Tremors were felt in the western region of Pakistan including in Peshawar, Malakand, Mardan, Charsadda, Attock, Hazara division, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar, Swat and other extreme northern parts of the country.
Fortunately, so far there are no reports of any casualty. Meanwhile, in order to assess damages to the property, National Disaster Management Authority had established a line of communication with the district authorities of earthquake hit areas.
It is pertinent to mention here that today’s earthquake followed a smaller 3.8 magnitude magnitude earthquake that shook parts of Punjab yesterday (13th of October, 2019). Earlier, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake had shook parts of KP last week.
Relevant pieces published earlier:
Earthquake tremors felt in Peshawar, adjoining areas
PESHAWAR: The Meteorological Department of Pakistan has said that strong earthquake tremors were felt in several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) including Peshawar.
According to a statement by the PMD, the tremors were felt in the Malakand region, Peshawar along with adjoining areas the recorded ferocity of the earthquake was 5.2 on the Richter scale.
“The epicenter of the earthquake has been revealed to be the Hindukush mountain range in Afghanistan,” the PMD said in its statement.
“The depth of the earthquake was determined to be 180 kilometers underneath the Hindukush terrain.”
“Tremors were also felt in the areas of Abbottabad, Swat, Mardan, and areas close to their vicinity,” it added.
Aftershocks of earthquake continue in AJK, Punjab
ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned the people in Azad Kashmir and other parts of the country to stay alert as aftershocks continue in the earthquake affected areas.
The series of aftershocks in different parts of AJ&K and Punjab triggered fear among the people.
According to NDMA, the tremor struck Mirpur (Azad Kashmir), Jhelum, Sargodha, Rawalakot, Narowal, Sangla Hill, Dina, Sheikhupura and other parts.
According to sources in NDMA and other individuals at the helm of affairs, the death toll from Tuesday (24th September, 2019) earthquake that struck the north of Pakistan, rose to 39.
NDMA Chairman Lt. General Mohammad Afzal had earlier confirmed that 34 people lost their lives due to yesterday’s earthquake (24 in Mirpur, 9 in Jatlan and 1 in Jhelum).
It has further been learnt that over 500 people got injured (160 gravely) who are being treated at different medical facilities.
Lt. General Mohammad Afzal informed that foreign diplomatic missions and Pakistani philanthropists had contacted NDMA for any support needed. He said that they were told that no outside aid was required.
Twelve people died on way to Mirpur’s Divisional Headquarters Hospital while others expired when tremors struck villages between Jatlan and Khari Sharif. 150 wounded are being treated at the DHQ Hospital, five were shifted to CMH Mangla and five more were shifted to CMH Rawalpindi. Other injured were allowed to go back home after necessary treatment.
NDMA will provide 1,000 family food aid packages (containing edibles sufficient for a month for an average-sized family) late this afternoon. Tents will also be provided to families whose damaged houses are not fit to live.
Out of 136 houses that were damaged due to tremors half had been declared unusable. It is pertinent to mention here that closure of mobile phone service as well as electric supply further added to the agony of the populace, particularly when family members were not able to contact each others.
Repair work on damaged roads is in progress and by Thursday (26th of September) those would be declared treadable.
News Pakistan
