Severe quake jolts Pakistan, Afghanistan, India

Six killed, seven injured in KP; Met director
says aftershocks expected; tremor shakes buildings across South Asia; landslides in GB: NDMA says no major damage reported

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Afghanistan and India were jolted when an earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck the region at about 3:36pm on Sunday.According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the epicenter of the earthquake was Ishkisham, Afghanistan, and its focal depth was recorded at 236 kilometers.

Strong shocks were felt in most major cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Peshawar and the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.Major jolts were also felt in the upper region of the country, including various parts of KP, Swat, Chitral, Mardan, Kohat, Hangu, Shangla, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In Gilgit-Baltistan, many areas witnessed landslides due to the shocks.

Following the tremors, people rushed out of their homes and buildings amid panic reciting the Kalma and Durood Sharif.Tremors were felt as far away as New Delhi, India, and Afghanistan.

In Peshawar, seven people were injured in the earthquake. However, no loss of life was reported till the filing of this news. The injured were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital for treatment.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a warning after the jolts. Director of the Pakistan Metrological Department’s Earthquake Centre Zahid Rafih said aftershocks were expected after the quake. “This is a new location and it is expected that land energy would be released in the form of aftershocks,” he said.

He informed that more than 100 earthquakes were recorded after the highest reported earthquake last October with two major aftershocks in December last year.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed all the federal, civil, military and provincial rescue and relief agencies to mobilise all resources to ensure the safety of citizens in the wake of an earthquake on Sunday afternoon. He directed all the agencies to move out with their resources to find out the affected people and ensure immediate rescue activities and assistance wherever required. The prime minister further directed the relevant quarters to keep him updated on the developing situation. –APP/PPI

Our Peshawar Bureau adds: Six people died and several were injured as an earthquake hit various parts of the province and tribal areas on Sunday. Many houses also collapsed as a result of the tremors that were recorded at 7.1 on the Richter scale.

In Peshawar, nine people with minor injuries were taken to different hospitals of the provincial capital where an emergency had already been declared. They were, however, discharged after first aid, an official at the control room established by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) told The News. The earthquake caused panic among the people, who rushed out of their homes and buildings.

PDMA Director Khalid Khan told The News that they were collecting reports of damage from across the province.

CHARSADDA: Two persons died and one injured when a wall collapsed in Shahbaz Khan Killay in Khwajawas area due to earthquake. The people ran out of houses in a state of fear due to the tremors.

MINGORA: Two people, including a child, were killed and around 30 people sustained injuries in the Malakand Division as the earthquake shook the region at around 03:29pm.

It was learnt that a minor child identified as Imad was killed in a wall collapse incident in Khwazakhela in Swat.

In Karakar, Buner district, Azmat Ali, who was driving a car, died when his vehicle was hit by a landslide triggered by the earthquake. Another occupant of the car, Abdul Rehman, sustained injuries in the incident.

Reports said that more than 75 houses developed cracks while the walls of various school buildings collapsed in Malakand Division, particularly in Swat.

MANSEHRA: The people in Balakot and other parts of the district rushed out of their houses and shops in panic as the tremors jolted the area.The reports about landslides were received from Kohistan, Kaghan, Konsh and Siran valleys as well.

“Tremors were so severe that people feared the same devastation which was taken place in 2005; they rushed out of shops and houses. However, the earthquake caused no casualty or damage to property,” stated Khursheed Zaman, a shopkeeper in Balakot.

TIMERGARA: Three persons including a woman were injured in Lower Dir in the quake.The injured were identified as Ahmad Sultan, Abdus Salam and mother of Noor Islam. They were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

DIR: Roof of a house collapsed in Maina Doog, an area of remote Doog Darra, in Upper Dir district.The police and residents said the roof of the house of Abdul Hanan caved in when children were busy receiving religious education. However, they remained unhurt and were rescued safely.

A man was injured and several cattle perished when house of the Baa Khan and Siasat Khan collapsed in Hattan Darra, locals said. Abdul Hameed, a resident of Dir Khas, said that the people came out of their houses amid the earthquake and were in a state of fear.Mobile and landline phones remained suspended partially across the district.

BISHAM: There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries in Shangla District. However, telephone and mobile networks were reportedly disrupted in the affected areas and an emergency declared at all hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.