5.1-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Balochistan’s Kohlu

News Desk 

Quetta: A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Balochistan’s Kohlu district on Friday, once again highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to seismic activity. 

Tremors were also felt in Zhob, Barkhan and Rakhni, causing panic among residents, though no casualties or property damage were immediately reported.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), the earthquake occurred at a depth of 17 kilometres, with its epicentre located about 60 kilometres northeast of Kohlu.

Residents rushed out of homes and buildings as the tremors spread across several districts. Earlier in the day, mild tremors had also been reported in Kohlu.

The latest quake comes weeks after a 4.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Lahore and surrounding areas on June 5. The NSMC had said that the quake originated at a depth of 18 kilometres, with its epicentre in the Kashmir region.

Pakistan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries due to its location at the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

The country has experienced several destructive earthquakes over the years, including the devastating 2005 Azad Kashmir earthquake that claimed more than 73,000 lives and left millions homeless.

More recently, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook Islamabad, Swat and Hunza in February, while Balochistan’s Harnai district witnessed a deadly earthquake in 2021 that killed at least 20 people and disrupted rescue efforts because of landslides.

Experts say the rugged mountainous terrain of many earthquake-prone regions, particularly in Balochistan and northern Pakistan, makes emergency response difficult and reinforces the need for stronger preparedness and resilient infrastructure.