ISLAMABAD: Strong tremors were felt across several parts of Pakistan, including Peshawar, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other northern regions, causing panic among residents. Reports confirmed that areas such as Gilgit, Ghizer, Hunza, and Nagar also experienced the earthquake shocks.
The epicenter of the earthquake was 10 km underground in AJK.
Pakistan is located in a highly seismic zone due to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making tremors and earthquakes a frequent occurrence, particularly in northern regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and parts of Balochistan and Punjab.
On January 19, 2026, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck approximately 50 km north-northwest of Barishal in Gilgit-Baltistan at a depth of about 35 km, causing noticeable shaking and panic across northern Pakistan including areas near Gilgit, Skardu, and possibly extending toward parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, though no major damage or casualties have been reported so far.
Earlier in the month, a magnitude 5.3 to 5.8 tremor originating from the Hindu Kush region near the Tajikistan-Xinjiang border was strongly felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Swat, Abbottabad, Murree, and parts of Azad Kashmir, prompting people to rush outdoors as buildings swayed.
Smaller tremors, including a magnitude 4.1 event near Hyderabad on January 17, have also occurred recently.
The country experiences hundreds of detectable quakes each year on average, with moderate events of magnitude 5 or higher happening several times annually, and historical major destructive earthquakes like the 2005 Kashmir quake and the 1935 Quetta event serve as reminders of the ongoing risk in this active tectonic setting.
Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity closely through the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, and residents in vulnerable areas are encouraged to remain prepared with emergency measures and safety awareness.
