5.9-magnitude earthquake jolts Balochistan's Khuzdar

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Balochistan's Khuzdar district on Saturday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The tremor occurred at 10:07am at a depth of 25 kilometres, with its epicentre located 48 kilometres northwest of Khuzdar at coordinates 28.02 degrees north and 66.20 degrees east. The PMD shared the seismic data through its Islamabad office.

In August, a lesser earthquake of magnitude 4.8 rattled parts of Balochistan, including Zhob and Chaman. The quake, which hit at a depth of 15 kilometres, caused panic among residents but reportedly did not result in any casualties or property damage. In July, another moderate earthquake of magnitude 4 shook Quetta, Ziarat, Harnai, and surrounding areas, prompting people to seek refuge outdoors, though again, no injuries or property damage were reported.

Pakistan sits atop three major tectonic plates - Arabian, Euro-Asian, and Indian - which intersect at several fault lines. This complex geological configuration results in frequent seismic activity across the region.