Islamabad, Pakistan – A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck 86 kilometers northeast of Khuzdar in Balochistan province on Friday morning, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NCMC), part of the Meteorological Department, reported that the quake occurred at 6:30 a.m. at a depth of 13 kilometers. It was preceded by a 3.8 magnitude tremor southeast of Khuzdar at 5:52 a.m. at a depth of 33 kilometers. The Press Trust of Pakistan (PTP) reported that the tremors were felt in several districts of Sindh province, including Sukkar, Kambar, Shahdadkot, and Dadu. Additionally, residents of Jal Magsi, Jaffarabad, and Nasirabad also felt the quakes.
Earthquakes are not new to Pakistan. Last January, a 5.8 magnitude tremor struck, felt by residents of Gilgit-Baltistan, Peshawar, and surrounding areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The tremor was also felt in the capital, Islamabad. Pakistan lies at the intersection of three major tectonic plates: the Arabian Plate, the Eurasian Plate, and the Indian Plate. This makes the country prone to several seismic zones, resulting in frequent tectonic activity across the nation.
