Mild Earthquake of Magnitude 3.5 Jolts Pulwama

A mild earthquake in Pulwama early on June 25, 2026, triggered panic in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, even as authorities reported no immediate casualties or major damage. The 3.5-magnitude tremor was far weaker than the powerful quakes reported around the same time in Japan and Venezuela, but it again drew attention to the seismic vulnerability of the Himalayan region.

According to the National Centre for Seismology, the tremor struck Pulwama district in the early hours of Thursday. Residents in some areas rushed out of homes after feeling the shaking. Emergency teams and local officials assessed the situation, but there were no immediate reports of injuries, deaths or significant structural damage from the affected valley areas.

Pulwama quake highlights Kashmir’s seismic risk

Jammu and Kashmir lies in a seismically active belt shaped by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This slow but powerful movement continues to generate stress beneath the Himalayas, making the region prone to frequent low and moderate-intensity tremors. Even mild earthquakes can cause alarm because of the area’s history of damaging seismic events.

An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 on the Richter scale occured in Pulawama, Jammu and Kashmir: National Centre for Seismology pic.twitter.com/rDsaEreFYf

— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2026

Thursday’s Pulwama quake was classified as low intensity, but shallow tremors can often be felt more sharply near the epicentre. The immediate concern after such events is usually the condition of older buildings, hillside structures and homes built without earthquake-resistant features. Officials generally advise residents to avoid panic, move to open spaces if shaking is strong, and check for cracks before re-entering damaged buildings.

The absence of major damage in Pulwama offered relief to residents, but disaster managers treat even smaller earthquakes as reminders to remain prepared. Kashmir’s terrain, dense settlements and winter-weakened structures can increase risk during stronger seismic activity. Preparedness measures, including safer construction, emergency drills and public awareness, remain critical in districts across the valley.

Venezuela shaken by two powerful earthquakes

The Pulwama tremor came on a day when much stronger earthquakes were reported in Venezuela and Japan. In Venezuela, two powerful quakes struck near the Caribbean coast on Wednesday evening, causing fear in Caracas and nearby areas. Early readings from the US Geological Survey placed the first quake at magnitude 7.1 near Morón, west of Caracas.

Minutes later, a stronger earthquake was recorded at magnitude 7.5, with its centre around 16 km south-west of Morón. The first tremor was reported at a depth of about 13 km, while the second occurred at around 10 km. Such shallow earthquakes can produce stronger surface shaking and increase the risk of damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure.

Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said the shaking was felt across several states. He said parts of Caracas, including the Altamira neighbourhood, had reported “alarming situations” involving damaged homes and buildings. Authorities urged residents not to return to weakened structures because aftershocks could cause further collapses or falling debris.

Images and videos from Caracas showed people gathered outside apartment blocks as a precaution. Some streets appeared covered with debris, while damage was visible on parts of residential and commercial buildings. In some areas, collapsed walls exposed furniture and interiors, underscoring the threat posed by shallow, high-magnitude earthquakes in urban centres.

Japan quake disrupts rail services, no tsunami warning

In Japan, a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck off the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture on Thursday morning. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake occurred at around 7:30 am local time at a depth of 50 km. Authorities said there was no tsunami threat, according to local media reports.

The agency recorded an upper 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 7 in Hashikami and a lower 6 in Hachinohe, both in Aomori Prefecture. Upper 5 shaking was also reported in Sannohe in Aomori Prefecture and in Morioka and other parts of Iwate Prefecture. Tremors were felt across Miyagi, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata and Fukushima, as well as in Tokyo and nearby regions.

Japan’s seismic intensity scale measures how strongly shaking is felt at specific locations, rather than only the energy released by a quake. The weather agency says an upper 6 intensity can make it nearly impossible for people to remain standing. Unsecured furniture may move violently, and many objects can fall due to the force of the shaking.

Transport services were briefly affected after the earthquake. East Japan Railway Company temporarily suspended Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train operations between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations while safety inspections were carried out. Such precautionary suspensions are common in Japan, where rail networks follow strict earthquake response protocols before services resume.

The three incidents varied sharply in scale and impact, from a mild tremor in Pulwama to severe shaking in Venezuela and Japan. For India’s Himalayan region, the Pulwama quake did not cause major damage, but it reinforced a familiar warning: earthquake preparedness depends less on the magnitude of one event and more on long-term readiness before a stronger one strikes.