New Delhi: A high intensity earthquake measuring 6.3 on Richter Scale struck the Pakistan-India border region at around 4.32 pm, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.
With earthquake epicenter reportedly five km away from Mirpur town in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, heavy loss of life and property has been reported in Mirpur and areas around it, said sources.
“At least five poeple have been killed and a number of houses collapsed in Mirpur and adjoning areas,” said sources adding that the Pakistan Army has been dispatched to carry out rescue and relief work in the affected areas.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers with its epicenter lying 1km southeast of Mirpur, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Emergency has been declared in PoK’s Mirpur as road networks in the area has been badly damaged due to earthquake.
According to initial reports, beides 5 casualties, around 70 people were injured due to the earthquake in Mirpur.
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) tweeted that an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 at Richter scale struck 173 km North West of Lahore, Pakistan, at 4:33 pm.
Pakistan’s Geo TV reported that tremors were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Charsadda, Swat, Khyber, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Nowshera, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar and Kohitan.
According to Dawn, the tremors lasted for 8-10 seconds in different parts of Pakistan and were felt strongly.
Pakistan Meteorological Department’s deputy director at earthquake centre, Najeeb Ahmed, told Dawn NewsTV that the quake measured 5.8 on the Richter scale and was at a depth of 10 kilometres.
The tremors were felt in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Chandigarh and parts of Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab too.
However, there has been no reports of any loss of life or property from the quake in India so far.