A 5.3 magnitude earthquake strikes parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the twin cities

The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, at a depth of 234 kilometers

Archive photo of a crack running through a mountain road after an earthquake. Photo: Reuters

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Rawalpindi late Tuesday, with its epicenter in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region at a depth of 234 kilometers, according to the National Seismological Center.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the earthquake was also felt in Charsadda, Risalpur, Nowshera, Rustom, Buner and neighboring towns. Local officials and residents said stronger tremors were observed in Malakand, Chitral, Swat, Dir, Takht Bhai and Bajaur.

🚨 Earthquake Update: Strong seismic tremors were felt in Rawalpindi Islamabad

An earthquake occurred on 10-21-2025 at 23:15 PST: 5.3 Depth: 234 km, Width: 36.56°N, Longitude: 71.40°E, Epicenter: Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/nEyg2C4yAM

– PK Weather Updates (@WeatherWupk) October 21, 2025

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The authorities said they were monitoring the situation and collecting information from district administrations.

Why do earthquakes happen?

Earthquakes occur when pressure builds up along the Earth's crust due to the movement of tectonic plates. When these plates suddenly move or collide, energy is released in the form of seismic waves that cause the ground to shake.

The Hindu Kush region – where many of the earthquakes affecting Pakistan originate – lies near the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. When the Indian plate pushes northward under the Eurasian plate, the resulting friction and pressure often cause moderate to strong earthquakes.

Seismic activity is common in this region, but the depth of an earthquake often determines how strongly it is felt at the surface. Deeply focused earthquakes, such as those recorded 234 kilometers away, tend to cause less surface damage although they are widely felt.

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan in late August 2025, devastating remote mountain communities, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring 3,600 others. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Jalalabad, close to the Pakistani border, and its depth was shallow – about five to eight kilometers – which intensified the destruction.

Entire villages have been flattened amid the rugged terrain, with most homes built of mud and unreinforced bricks, making them highly vulnerable to collapse.

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