Overview
- The United States Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 5.5 earthquake near Jurm on Wednesday that originated about 217 kilometres beneath the surface.
- Pakistan’s Meteorological Department gave a slightly different initial reading of magnitude 5.3 and placed the depth near 174 kilometres with the epicentre in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush.
- Seismic centres and local agencies reported tremors across Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with residents in cities such as Peshawar, Mardan and Rawalpindi stepping outside as the shaking was felt.
- There were no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage and disaster authorities in Pakistan and Afghanistan said they were monitoring the situation and conducting initial assessments.
- The July 1 quake is part of a recent cluster of deep Hindu Kush events, including shocks on June 22 and June 27, and highlights that deep quakes can be felt far away but that Afghanistan’s rugged terrain and sparse infrastructure can delay accurate damage and casualty reporting.