Web Desk: A magnitude 4.9 earthquake shook Islamabad and several other parts of Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon, with the tremor originating deep beneath the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
The earthquake struck at around 4:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time, with the PMD recording its depth at 196 kilometres.
The seismic event was located at 36.53 degrees north latitude and 70.88 degrees east longitude in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage following the tremor. Authorities were expected to provide further information as assessments continued.
The Hindu Kush region is one of the major earthquake zones affecting Pakistan. Because earthquakes in the region can occur at considerable depth, tremors may be felt across wide areas, including Islamabad and parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan’s seismic records show repeated earthquake activity around the Hindu Kush and neighbouring regions throughout 2026.
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake was recorded east of Khuzdar on Sept. 21, while other tremors were reported around Sialkot, Peshawar and Mingora during September.
Earlier in August, earthquakes measuring up to magnitude 4.6 were recorded in the Muzaffarabad region, alongside other seismic activity near Peshawar and Battagram.
The repeated tremors have kept earthquake preparedness and monitoring in focus across the country.
One of the year’s stronger earthquakes occurred on June 27, when a major tremor struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan and was felt across Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of Pakistan.
The PMD measured that earthquake at magnitude 5.9, while the U.S. Geological Survey recorded it at 6.1.
A separate magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit Musakhel in Balochistan the same day, injuring more than 20 people and damaging about 125 houses.
Other notable earthquakes included a magnitude 5.7 tremor near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border on April 27 and a magnitude 5.4 earthquake in the Hindu Kush region on June 22.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake was also recorded in Pakistan on Feb. 13, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences.
Pakistan lies in a seismically active region where earthquakes can occur along several tectonic zones. The PMD continues to monitor seismic activity and issue earthquake information following significant tremors.
Officials had not immediately reported major damage from Tuesday’s earthquake, while further assessments were awaited.
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