6.9 magnitude earthquake jolts parts of Pakistan; at least 89 injured

Lahore, Dec 26: At least 89 people were injured in Pakistan today when a powerful earthquake measuring 6.9-magnitude on Richter Scale jolted several parts of the country including areas bordering Afghanistan.

The centre of the quake with 196-km depth was Afghanistan and it was also felt in parts of Tajikistan and India, said Ghulam Rasool, Meteorological Department Director General.

However, no loss of life transpired from the earthquake, said an official of the Police Emergency Control Room.

The US Geological Survey put the intensity of the quake at 6.3 and the epicenter 41 kilometres west-southwest of Ashkasham area of Afghanistan, in the Hindu Kush Mountains, and at a depth of 203-km.

As many as 59 people were injured in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakthunkhwa, whereas other minor injuries reported include 17 from Swat, 12 from dir Lower district and one from Buner district, an official of Provincial Disaster Management Authority said.

The injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad medical complex. The majority of the injuries were caused due to panicky situation as the frightened people rushed out of their homes in haste and sustained minor injuries.

Due to landslide caused by the quake, the main Karakuram Highway was closed in Upper Kohistan district which has now been cleared for the traffic movement.

"Rest all districts are ok, no major emergency reported," a rescue official said.

The quake was felt across Pakistan including Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Faislabad, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Multan, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jehlum, Muree, Malakand, Charsada, Mansahra, Swat, Hangu, and Swabi, Chitral and South Waziristan.

It is second powerful quake in the region after a 7.5 magnitude tremor on October 26 struck Pakistan and northeastern Afghanistan, killing over 200 people in Pakistan. Also, last month an earthquake of 5.9 was reported in most parts of Pakistan.

PTI