Quake hits parts of country

ISLAMABAD: An earthquake magnitude 5.4 struck the Kaghan Valley on Saturday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, and local officials said there had been no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The epicentre of the tremor was located about 5km north of the town of Naran and 150km north of the capital Islamabad, according to the US Geological Survey. It occurred at a depth of 43.4km.

“We have so far received no reports of casualties or damage. We are still coordinating information, but so far there are no such reports,” said Muhammad Shahryar, an official at the provincial disaster management authority.

According to National Seismic Monitoring Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake measured 5.5 on Richter scale with diameter of nine kilometres with its epicentre at Pattan.

The jolts were felt across Islamabad, Malakand division, Abbottabad district, Peshawar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu, Chilas and some parts of Azad Kashmir where frightened people came out of their homes, offices and commercial centres reciting Kalma Tayyaba.