Strong 5.8 quake hits Islamabad and Rawalpindi

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other parts of Pakistan on Monday.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the quake was felt in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Seismological Centre further reported that the earthquake occurred with its focus at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers, with its epicenter resting in northwestern Kashmir. Since the depth was quite shallow, the earthquake had strong shaking effects, especially within the heavily populated twin cities.

There were no reports, though, regarding the losses of lives or property damages resulting from the earthquake, as confirmed by the authorities. People characterized the tremors as sudden and strong, which had forced them to come out of buildings as a precautionary measure. The emergency services continued to remain alert as the teams began monitoring the situation and started contacting the local administrations to assess the possible impact.

This is the latest such earthquake in a series, coming just weeks after a similar jolt was recorded in Karachi and its environs in December 2025. A 5.2-magnitude quake had hit the city at a 12-kilometer depth, sending brief but noticeable vibrations through several neighborhoods around 12:51 am.

Residents of Saddar, Clifton, DHA Phase 8, and PECHS felt the jolts while Shah Faisal Colony, Liaquatabad, and Buffer Zone witnessed a stronger shake. No casualties were recorded; however, the incident did ring an alarm for increasing seismic activity across the diverse parts of the country. While the authorities are still tracking the disaster, management teams have called on the public to remain calm but at alert. They emphasize the need to follow all safety guidelines, especially since Pakistan lies in an active seismic zone where earthquakes occur out of the blue.