Magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolts parts of Pakistan

More than 30 people were injured in the northwestern city of Peshawar while a over 40 people were taken to hospitals in the city

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake jolted several parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad and Punjab's provincial capital Lahore, in the early hours today.

More than 30 people were injured as houses or walls collapsed in the northwestern city of Peshawar while a over 40 people were taken to hospitals in the city, according to officials.

Pakistan Meteorological Department Director Gen Ghulam Rasool said the quake that struck post midnight was recorded in various districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

He said the tremors were felt for about a minute.

"A 6.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded as it epicentre was Afghanistan and its depth was 196 kilometres," he said.
 
The tremors were felt in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faislabad, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Multan, Chakwal, Lodhran, Sialkot, Gujrat and Jhelum (Punjab district), Muree, Peshawar, Malakand, Charsada, Mansahra, Swat, Hangu, and Swabi, Chitral (KP province), and south Waziristan.

Panic-stricken people rushed out of their residences following the quake. No casualty was reported as yet.

Earlier on October 26, an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck Pakistan and northeastern Afghanistan, killing over 200 people in Pakistan.

Last month, an earthquake measuring 5.9 magnitude struck Pakistan. However, no casualty was reported.