5.3 magnitude earthquake jolts northern Pakistan

People gather outside buildings after an earthquake in Islamabad, Pakistan, on December 20, 2019. (AFP/File)

• Tremors were felt in Islamabad, Peshawar, Lower Dir, Malakand, Nowshera, Chitral and suburban areas
• Earthquake had its epicenter in Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region at a depth of 180 kilometers

ISLAMABAD: A 5.3 magnitude earthquake jolted northern parts of Pakistan on Saturday evening, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). 
Pakistan is counted among the most seismically active countries in the world where there are several fault lines. 
On Saturday, tremors were felt in Islamabad, Swat, Peshawar, Lower Dir, Nowshera, Chitral, Mardan, Bajaur, Malakand, Pabbi, Akora Khattak and suburban areas. 
People left homes in search of safer places soon after the earthquake struck. No loss of life and property was reported in its wake. 
“The earthquake had its epicenter in the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region at a depth of 180 kilometers,” the PMD said on its website. 
On December 8, a 4.1 magnitude hit the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Its epicenter was 15 kilometers north of the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) at a depth of 15 kilometers. 
In October, 20 people lost their lives and over 200 were injured after a 5.9-magnitude quake struck Balochistan’s Harnai district. 
Pakistan experienced a major earthquake in October 2005 that mainly affected the Kashmir region, killing several thousand people and leaving a significant number of families homeless.