‌Earthquake jolts Kashmir, several Pakistan cities

By Nasir Aijaz
AsiaN Correspondent

Islamabad: A strong earthquake jolted the federal capital Islamabad, several cities and towns of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw provinces including Lahore, Peshawar and its suburban areas and parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday evening.

Mirpur and surrounding areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir were more severely affected as roads caved in and caused cracks to several buildings. Some cars also plunged in caved-in roads.

So far, authorities have confirmed that at least 23 people have died and more than 300 were injured.

Tremors felt in various cities for 10 seconds in over two dozen cities and towns where citizens came out of their houses and offices.

The quake also hit some urban and rural parts of the Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir including Muzaffarabad and Kotli , where the roads caved in.

According to the Met Department, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.8 on the Richter Scale and its epicentre was five kilometres away from Jhelum in the northern region while its depth was 10 kilometres inside the land.

Following the intensity of the quake, the aviation authorities have stopped aircraft movement by taking precautionary measures at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore.