On Tuesday morning, a 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck Lahore and surrounding areas of Punjab, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported. The tremor hit at 6:39 am, with its epicenter located 25 kilometers south-southwest of Lahore at a depth of 14 kilometers. Residents in Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Mureed, and other districts felt the quake.
Thankfully, no casualties have been reported so far. Local authorities are currently inspecting buildings throughout Punjab to check for any structural damage caused by the earthquake. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has placed emergency operation centers on alert for the next 24 hours in case of aftershocks.
PDMA also advised people to report any damage by calling their helpline at 1129. This recent quake comes after a 3.9-magnitude tremor on June 30 near Dera Ghazi Khan and a 4.8-magnitude quake recorded the same day in Balochistan near Zhob. Earlier that weekend, a stronger 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Musakhail in Balochistan, injuring five people and damaging mud houses.
Pakistan is prone to earthquakes due to its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The country has experienced numerous low to moderate earthquakes over recent months, highlighting the ongoing risk and need for preparedness.