Islamabad, June 27, 2026: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Islamabad and several parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday, sending panicked residents rushing out of their homes and offices. No casualties or property damage were immediately reported.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), the earthquake originated at a depth of 178 kilometres, with its epicentre located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.
Strong tremors were felt across a wide area, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Malakand, Bajaur, Hangu, Wana, Lower Dir, Shangla, Buner and Swat.
In Punjab, residents in Mianwali, Chakwal, Jhang and surrounding areas also experienced the tremors.
The earthquake was also felt in Muzaffarabad and Athmuqam, the headquarters of Neelum Valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The tremors prompted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to adjourn its ongoing session for five minutes as a precaution.
In Swat, residents rushed into open spaces after the shaking began.
“It was very huge here in Swat and it lasted for quite a long time,” resident Daniyal Ahmad told Reuters.
“People came out of their houses and women and children were seen crying in panic,” he said.
Authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant structural damage, although assessments were continuing.
Pakistan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries due to its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
The country has experienced several devastating earthquakes in recent decades, including the 2005 Azad Kashmir earthquake, which claimed more than 73,000 lives and displaced millions of people. More recently, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Islamabad, Swat and Hunza in February this year, while the 2021 Harnai earthquake in Balochistan killed at least 20 people and disrupted rescue operations due to landslides.
Seismologists have repeatedly warned that Pakistan’s mountainous terrain and vulnerable infrastructure make earthquake preparedness and rapid emergency response critical to minimising casualties during future seismic events.
