Pakistan: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at around 08:06 Aug. 5

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, at around 08:06 PKT Aug. 5. The epicenter was about 23 km (14 miles) northwest of Shingli Bala. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 43 km (26 miles), and light shaking was probably felt near the epicenter, while weak shaking probably occurred in parts of northern Pakistan, northeastern Afghanistan, and Jammu and Kashmir State in India. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. Minor damage to rudimentary infrastructure is possible near the epicenter. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.