January 09, 2026

Strong earthquake tremors were felt across Islamabad and nearby areas on Thursday, causing fear and panic among residents who rushed out of homes and offices.

According to seismic authorities, the earthquake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale and occurred at a depth of 159 kilometres, reducing the risk of major damage.

The tremors were reported in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Swat, Malakand, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, Skardu, and Abbottabad, while several other parts of the country also experienced noticeable shaking. Reports of tremors were also received from Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as Indian-administered Kashmir.

Some monitoring agencies, however, recorded the quake at a slightly lower magnitude of 5.8, stating that the epicentre was located near the Tajikistan–China border region. In China’s Xinjiang region, close to the Tajikistan border, the earthquake was measured at 6.1 magnitude.

Separately, authorities recalled that on December 16, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake had struck an area 87 kilometres northwest of Karachi. That tremor occurred at a depth of 12 kilometres, with its epicentre at 25.52°N and 66.55°E, and was felt across multiple neighbourhoods of the city.

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