5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Islamabad and Rawalpindi

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday, sending tremors through residential and commercial areas and prompting residents to evacuate buildings. The quake was felt widely across the capital territory and adjoining areas, with initial reports indicating no major structural damage or casualties at the time of filing.

The tremor adds to a recurring pattern of seismic activity in northern Pakistan, a region that sits along active tectonic fault lines. Islamabad and Rawalpindi, both densely populated urban centres, are considered moderately high-risk zones due to their proximity to the Himalayan fold-and-thrust belt.

Authorities including the National Disaster Management Authority were monitoring the situation following the quake. Emergency services were placed on alert as a precautionary measure while structural assessments were conducted on older and vulnerable buildings in the affected areas.

Residents reported shaking lasting several seconds, with scenes of people rushing outdoors. No major damage to critical infrastructure was immediately reported, though aftershocks remained a possibility and monitoring continued through the afternoon.