A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Lahore, Gujrat, and other cities in Punjab on Thursday, causing panic among residents who rushed out of their homes and buildings.
The tremors were also felt in cities like Jhelum, Kamalia, Khanewal, Chichawatni, Bhalwal, Chiniot, and Hafizabad. The earthquake's epicenter was located near Kharian, at a depth of 15 kilometers.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab, there have been no reports of casualties or significant damage so far. Authorities are continuing to inspect buildings for any damage.
This follows a similar event last month, when a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), causing fear among residents. The epicenter of that quake was near the border of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, at a depth of 212 kilometers. It was the second earthquake in a month, as another 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa just two weeks earlier.
Earthquakes are common in Pakistan, as the country lies on the boundary of two major tectonic plates, the Indian and Eurasian plates, which are constantly shifting.