A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck Pakistan early Sunday morning, marking the second seismic jolt in just 24 hours. Tremors were felt across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and several adjoining areas, causing widespread panic as residents rushed out of their homes in the dead of night.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), the quake occurred at approximately 12:10 a.m., with its epicentre located 15 kilometers southeast of Rawat at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The impact was felt in multiple cities including Murree, Haripur, Chakwal, Talagang, Mardan, and Kallar Kahar. This quake follows a 5.4-magnitude tremor recorded just a day earlier, which originated in the Hindukush mountain region of Afghanistan. That quake had a depth of 102 kilometers and was felt across northern Pakistan, as well as in parts of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
The recent back to back seismic activity has left citizens in a state of heightened alert. Many remained outdoors long after the tremors subsided, fearing potential aftershocks. Fortunately, no casualties or major structural damages have been reported from either of the quakes, so far.
The twin events underscore the region&rsquo;s vulnerability to seismic shifts due to its location near active tectonic boundaries. Pakistan is among the most seismically active countries in the world, largely due to its position at the intersection of major tectonic plates. The frequent and often intense earthquakes in the region stem from its geological setting, where powerful fault lines converge.
Provinces like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan are situated along the southern edge of the Eurasian Plate, while Sindh and Punjab rest on the northwestern edge of the Indian Plate. This complex tectonic overlap makes seismic activity a regular occurrence, with tremors in these areas often more destructive than in many other parts of the world.
Several regions are particularly vulnerable due to their closeness to key fault zones. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, for instance, lie near the Main Central Thrust fault, placing them in a high-risk seismic belt. Balochistan, meanwhile, borders the active boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, contributing to its frequent earthquake activity.

Second Earthquake Strikes Pakistan After 5.4 Jolt

5.1-magnitude quake hits Islamabad, Rawalpindi, follows 5.4 quake a day earlier

Second Earthquake Strikes Pakistan After 5.4 Jolt

5.1-magnitude quake hits Islamabad, Rawalpindi, follows 5.4 quake a day earlier

August 3, 2025 | 09:13 IST