A moderate earthquake struck near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Saturday morning, sending mild tremors across northwestern Pakistan, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 4.6-magnitude quake was recorded at 10:08 a.m. local time. Its epicenter was situated 34 kilometers west of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan, at a significant depth of 233.7 kilometers beneath the Hindu Kush mountain range.
Because of its deep origin, the earthquake caused minimal surface impact. No casualties or property damage were reported in Pakistan, though residents in areas like Chitral, Upper Dir, and surrounding valleys reported light shaking.
This region lies within an active seismic zone where deep earthquakes are relatively common, often producing widespread but gentle tremors. Northwestern Pakistan, located near the tectonic collision zone, routinely experiences such seismic activity.
