5.9 Quake Jolts Pakistan, Afghanistan; No Casualties

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan on Saturday, triggering panic among residents who rushed out of their homes, officials said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the quake's epicentre was located in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region. Tremors were felt in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, the eastern province of Punjab, the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said district administrations had been put on alert following the earthquake.

Anwar Shahzad, spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, said preliminary assessments had not found any reports of deaths, injuries or damage.

Pakistan is situated on an active seismic belt and experiences frequent earthquakes. In 2005, a devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake killed tens of thousands of people in Pakistan and Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan territory divided between Pakistan and India and claimed by both countries- UNB.