5.8 magnitude quake in Afghanistan triggers tremors across Delhi NCR, J&K and Pakistan

This event represents the second major seismic occurrence in the region within a single week.

A seismic event registering 5.8 on the Richter scale occurred in Afghanistan on Saturday at 12:17 PM (IST), as confirmed by the National Center for Seismology. The tremors were felt across a broad region in northern India, notably within the National Capital Region (NCR) and Jammu & Kashmir.

One resident in Srinagar recounted the experience, stating, “I felt the tremor. I was in the office when my chair shook,” illustrating the immediate alarm triggered by the quake. While there have been no immediate reports of infrastructural damage or casualties in India, authorities are maintaining vigilant oversight of the situation.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan also experienced a significant seismic event, with the National Seismic Monitoring Centre reporting a 5.9 magnitude earthquake at 11:47 AM (local time).

The earthquake's epicenter was identified near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border at a depth of 94 kilometers. Tremors were reported across numerous urban centers in Pakistan, including Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar, alongside various districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa such as Lower Dir, Bajaur, Malakand, Nowshera, Dir Bala, Shabqadar, and Mohmand, resulting in widespread panic among residents. Fortunately, there have been no reports of fatalities or significant property damage to date.

This event represents the second major seismic occurrence in the region within a single week, following a 5.5 magnitude earthquake that affected Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces the previous Saturday.