At least one dead as 5.8-magnitude earthquake hits Pakistan

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said in a statement that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.8 and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located in northwestern Kashmir, Xinhua reported.

Ghulam Abbas, information minister for Pakistan’s northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, told Xinhua that a man lost his life after being hit by falling rocks while traveling on a road during the quake.

He said dozens of mud houses collapsed or sustained damage in various parts of the mountainous region.

The minister added that landslides triggered by the earthquake blocked several roads and pathways. Government agencies deployed machinery to remove debris and reopen traffic routes.

Tremors were felt across a wide area, including the capital Islamabad, northwestern regions such as Peshawar, Swat and Mardan, as well as parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The shaking caused panic among residents, many of whom rushed out of buildings.