ISLAMABAD: An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale struck the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday afternoon, sending waves of panic across several areas.

According to preliminary data, the epicenter was located about 20 kilometers inside neighboring Afghanistan, with tremors felt around 4pm (PST). The quake’s depth and precise coordinates are yet to be officially confirmed.

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Tremors were reported in multiple surrounding areas, prompting residents to rush out of homes and buildings. While no immediate reports of casualties or damage have surfaced, the quake caused widespread alarm.

This marks the third instance of tremors being felt this month. Earlier, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan in the first week of September, shaking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, and upper Punjab. A week later, a massive 7.4 magnitude quake rattled Russia’s Far East Kamchatka peninsula, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).