Massive 6.8 earthquake kills 9 in KP; Islamabad buildings evacuated

22.03.2023

Martina Lombardo 

Pakistan Team Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

A 6.8 magnitudo earthquake with epicentre in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region shook Pakistan, causing the death of nine people, the injury of 160 and many building collapse. The earthquake was then followed by 3.7 magnitude aftershocks with a depth of 156 kilometres. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary Relief visited the Emergency Operation Centre and directed the district administration to remain alert, advising citizens to report any untoward incident at helpline. The earthquake's effects were also felt in Peshawar, Swabi, Lodhran, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Skardu, Kohat, Toba Tek Singh, Parachinar, Nowshera, and Khanewal.

According to Islamabad police, the capital has not experienced any loss of life after the earthquake, but the Khudad Heights building have been evacuated once cracks started appearing in the walls. Other residential buildings were evacuated as well, following the tremors, which were felt in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Peshawar, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, and many other areas of the country. In light of the happening, Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel declared an emergency alert at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences as well as Federal Government Polyclinic, stating that “Hospital administration should ensure advance measures to deal with any emergency situation”.