5.8 magnitude earthquake hits Hindu Kush and parts of northern Pakistan

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake jolted several cities in the northern parts of Pakistan on Saturday, the meteorological department said. However, there was no immediate report of any casualty or damage.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department's National Seismic Monitoring Centre in Islamabad, the epicentre of the quake was Hindu Kush, a mountain range that stretches near the Afghan-Pakistan border - from central Afghanistan to northern Pakistan. The earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale took place at a depth of 208 kilometres in the Hindu Kush Region in Afghanistan, it said.

The tremors were felt in various cities of Pakistan, including Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Kohat, Swat, Mianwali and Sargodha, the Dawn News reported. Earlier in the day, a mild tremor was also felt in Karachi at 7:38 am. According to the Met department, it was recorded at a 2.9 magnitude on the Richter scale.

(With inputs from agencies.)