RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck multiple cities across Punjab and Islamabad on Tuesday evening, leaving at least one teenage boy dead and several others injured, while causing structural damage to homes in parts of Jhelum district.
The tremors, which triggered panic among residents, were felt in Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Okara, Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin and surrounding areas.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NMSC), the earthquake was recorded at 7:06pm on Tuesday. It originated at a depth of 12 kilometres, with its epicentre located 58 kilometres southwest of Jhelum at latitude 32.59°N and longitude 73.23°E.
In the worst-affected areas of Pind Dadan Khan tehsil, particularly Jalalpur Sharif, several houses sustained serious damage after roofs and walls collapsed during the tremors. Rescue officials confirmed that a house collapse led to the death of a 13-year-old boy, identified in local reports as Umar, who was trapped under debris in Jalalpur Sharif.
Authorities said between nine and eleven people were also injured in the incident, with multiple victims rescued from the rubble and shifted to nearby medical facilities. Rescue 1122 teams reached the site within minutes of receiving emergency calls and carried out search and relief operations in the affected neighbourhoods.
Officials from the district administration reported that around ten houses were severely damaged in Pind Dadan Khan and adjoining localities, including Sagharpur, Daryala Jalip, Haranpur, Jaitypur, and Pindi Saidpur. Emergency teams, police and local administration personnel remained engaged in assessment and relief work throughout the evening.
Officials said several victims were initially taken to the Rural Health Centre in Jalalpur Sharif, with critically injured individuals later referred to the District Headquarters Hospital in Jhelum for further treatment.
Earlier, Rescue 1122 officials reported that a call was received at 7:09pm indicating the collapse of a house following the earthquake, prompting immediate response teams to be dispatched to the site, where they found victims trapped beneath rubble.
Tremors from the quake sparked alarm in major urban centres including Lahore and Islamabad, with residents rushing out of homes and offices as buildings shook for several seconds.
Pakistan lies along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making the region highly prone to seismic activity. The country has experienced several significant earthquakes in recent decades, including devastating events in 2005 and more recent tremors in 2024 and early 2026, underscoring ongoing concerns over preparedness in vulnerable regions.
Seismological authorities noted that the country’s complex fault lines and mountainous terrain continue to pose challenges for emergency response and disaster mitigation efforts.