Earthquake jolts Pakistan, third since Jan 1

Updated: Friday, January 8, 2016, 16:00 [IST]

Islamabad, Jan 8: An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale jolted parts of Pakistan including capital city Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday. Epicentre of the earthquake traced in Jarm region in Afghanistan.

Tremors were also felt in Peshawar, Malakand, Mansehra, Haripur and Abbottabad, reported Dawn online.

This is the third earthquake since the beginning of new year. People flee their home and offices after the quake hit the country.

Pakistan is located in the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone, which is roughly 200 km north of the Himalaya Front and is defined by an exposed ophiolite chain along its southern margin.

This region has the highest rates of seismicity and largest earthquakes in the Himalaya region, caused mainly by movement on thrust faults.

More than 300 people killed in both Afghanistan and Pakistan due to 7.5 magnitude earthquake in October last year.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded about 851 seismic disturbances in 2015.