QUETTA: Fresh earthquake tremors were felt in Kohlu district of Balochistan, just hours after the area was shaken by a stronger quake that left several people injured and damaged dozens of houses.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the latest earthquake had a magnitude of 4.3 and occurred at a depth of 15 kilometres.
The epicentre of the quake was located around 40 kilometres north of Kohlu, the monitoring centre said.
No casualties or damage have been reported so far from the latest tremors.
The new earthquake comes after Kohlu experienced two separate tremors a day earlier, raising concerns among residents in the affected areas.
Earlier, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake had struck Kohlu, causing damage in Kingri area. At least three people, including a child, were injured after walls collapsed, while around 70 houses were partially damaged, according to local authorities.
Musa Khel Deputy Commissioner Abdul Razaq Khajak had said rescue teams were sent to the affected areas and the injured were shifted to hospital for medical assistance.
The earlier earthquake was also felt in nearby areas, including Zhob, Barkhan and Rakhni. The seismic centre had recorded its depth at 17 kilometres, with the epicentre located around 60 kilometres northeast of Kohlu.
Later, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the earthquake was the third time in a single day.
The first earthquake was recorded at 10:25am, followed by a second at 10:58am, while the third tremor was felt at 4:49pm, the Met Office said.
Earlier in the afternoon, earthquake tremors had also been felt in Kohlu.
A 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck Lahore and adjoining areas earlier this month, prompting residents to rush out of their homes and buildings in panic.
The NSMC said on June 5 that the earthquake measured 4.9 in magnitude and struck at a depth of 18 kilometres, with its epicentre located in the Kashmir region.
Pakistan's susceptibility to earthquakes stems from its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The country has experienced multiple devastating quakes in recent decades.
In February this year, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Islamabad, Swat, and Hunza, while the 2005 quake in Azad Kashmir killed over 73,000 people and left millions homeless.
Balochistan also suffered in 2021, when a quake in Harnai killed at least 20 people and hampered rescue operations due to landslides.
Experts warn that the rugged terrain of Pakistan’s earthquake-prone areas complicates relief efforts and makes preparedness critical.
