5.2-magnitude quake hits Pakistan

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit parts of northwest Pakistan on Sunday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said.

The tremors were felt at 11.05am (local time) in northwest areas of the country, including Swat, Malakand division, Peshawar and the areas located at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The quake’s epicentre was determined at Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountain range with a focal depth of 80km, the Met Office said.

The tremors created panic among people who rushed out of their houses to open places. No loss of life or property was immediately reported from the affected areas.

Pakistan is among the most earthquake-prone regions of the world with high vulnerability to earthquakes.

Geographically, the country lies in the collision zone of the India tectonic plate to the south and the Eurasian plate to the north.

On October 26, 2015, an earthquake of 7.5 magnitude struck parts of Pakistan, killing at least 280 people and injuring over 1,900 others.