NEW DELHI: A 5.4-magnitude earthquake in Richter Scale struck Pakistan on Saturday, just hours after a 5.3-magnitude tremor shook the country on Friday evening, adding to concerns over heightened seismic activity across several parts of the world.
The latest quake comes as Venezuela continues to grapple with the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes that have killed hundreds and left tens of thousands missing. Venezuela was struck with another earthquake of 4.9 magnitude on Friday even as its government claimed at least 920 killed in the back-to-back earthquakes on Wednesday.
According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), Saturday’s earthquake in Pakistan occurred at a depth of 35 kilometres. No immediate reports of casualties or major damage were available.
Pakistan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it lies along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Regions such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to active fault lines, while Punjab and Sindh also face seismic risks.
The latest tremor follows a 5.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan on Friday evening, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), making it the second moderate earthquake to hit the country within 24 hours.
