A moderate earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted northern parts of Pakistan on Friday morning, killing one person, injuring 22 and sending a fear wave.
A man died after being struck by a wall near Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Those hurt were caught in panic that swept through the town. The quake was felt in Islamabad, Lahore, Jhelum and Peshawar, meteorological officials said. Mirpur appeared the worst hit, along with Kotli and Bhimber.
They are the three southern-most districts of AJK and escaped the greatest damage in the October 8 quake. There was widespread panic in Mirpur town, with a stampede reported at the market and people jumping from windows.
The quake was an aftershock of the massive October 8 temblor that killed more than 73,000 people in Pakistan, seismological department chief Qamaruz Zaman said.
Shocks were felt at 12:50 pm in Jhelum and Lahore in the Punjab province and in the town of Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Zaman said, adding the epicentre was located between Jhelum and Mirpur.
The tremor in Balakot-the town that was the worst hit by the October 8 quake-was of low intensity, a local told Business Recorder on telephone. "We felt the tremor but it was not as horrifying as some of aftershocks have been after the massive quake," said Raza Muhammad, a resident of Hassa village, located some five kilometers south of main Balakot town.
An official stationed at the Balakot police station said no immediate report of casualty or property damage was received from any part of the town.
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