Strong Earthquake Strikes Border Region: Communities and Authorities Respond with Urgency
In the early hours of Monday morning, a powerful earthquake shook communities along the China–Myanmar border, sending tremors across Southeast Asia. The event, measured at a magnitude of 7.7, is already being described by experts as one of the most significant seismic occurrences in the region in recent decades.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated about 10 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. Because of its shallow depth, the shaking was felt across a wide area, including parts of southern China, northern Thailand, and Myanmar.
Residents from major cities to small rural villages described the sensation differently: some experienced rolling waves, while others felt abrupt, powerful jolts. This variation reflects how seismic waves interact with different types of terrain.
Infrastructure was temporarily affected in several areas. Power outages, communication disruptions, and road blockages created initial challenges for both residents and emergency services. Transportation networks also paused for safety inspections, including airports and rail lines in northern Thailand
A strong earthquake recently struck the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. Here are some key details about the earthquake:
– Magnitude: The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.7, according to recent reports. However, another source reported a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on Monday.
– Impact: At least nine people were killed and over 20 injured in the earthquake, according to seismologists and Taliban officials. In some cases, strong tremors can cause widespread devastation and a mounting death toll.
– Epicenter: The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the Pak-Afghan border, with some reports specifying the Hindukush mountains in Afghanistan as the epicenter.
– Affected Areas: Strong tremors were felt in multiple cities across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and several areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
Some recent earthquakes in the region include ¹ ²:
– A 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region
– A 5.0-magnitude earthquake in the Pak-Afghan border region earlier in the week
– A 5.9-magnitude earthquake that struck parts of Pakistan in April, causing panic across major cities
The frequency and intensity of earthquakes in the region highlight the importance of disaster preparedness and emergency planning. For more information on recent earthquakes and their impact, it’s best to consult authoritative sources like Reuters or Geo.tv
- Epicentre near Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.
- PMD confirms magnitude 5.9 quake at 11:47am.
- Tremors felt in 20+ cities across multiple provinces.
ISLAMABAD: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Pakistan on Saturday morning, causing panic across major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
The tremors, the third in a week, recorded at 11:47am, prompted residents to rush out of their homes and workplaces in fear.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the epicentre was located near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region, with a depth of 94 kilometres at latitude 36.21 N and longitude 71.34 E.
Strong tremors were felt in Lower Dir, Malakand, Bajaur, Nowshera, Dir Bala, Shabqadar, Mohmand, Chitral, Swat, Swabi, Gilgit and Mardan. Additional shocks were also reported in Punjab’s Chiniot, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Bhalwal, and Mansehra, as well as the Neelum Valley’s Athmuqam area in Azad Kashmir.
“It was brief but a powerful one. I felt the entire bed shake and had to quickly run out of our house with my family. Thankfully, it was brief and quickly over,” said Shahjahan Khurram, a 33-year-old resident of Bahria Enclave, Islamabad.
“We felt a single jolt, which was intense but brief. As soon as the tremor was felt, people rushed out of the office in panic,” Ayesha Rehman, whose office is in Blue Area, told Geo.tv.
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude of 5.7 earthquake, 53 kilometres south southwest of Ashkasham in Afghanistan. The survey showed the epicentre near to the Pak-Afghan border.
The latest tremors add to the troubling natural phenomenon-related experiences of the residents — especially that of KP, Punjab and Islamabad — who were jolted by a 5.5-magnitude earthquake on April 12, followed by another set of tremors on April 16 measured at 5.3 on Richter scale.
For the people living in the federal capital, today’s earthquake also comes against the backdrop of recent havoc witnessed by the city due to a heavy hailstorm on April 16 which left behind a trail of destruction that included smashed car windscreens, damaged solar panels, and broken tree branches.
The whole country is experiencing rather extreme weather conditions with hailstorms and heavy rains forecast for parts of Punjab and Islamabad in contrast to heatwave-like conditions expected in Karachi amid persisting scorching heat in South Punjab and parts of Sindh.
