A 5.5-magnitude earthquake today jolted northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, injuring at least nine children and causing panic among the residents, met office said today.
An official at the meteorological department said the epicentre of Wednesday’s quake was located near the northwestern city of Bannu at a depth of 12 km.
At least nine children were injured in Bannu’s Government Model School near Tankhi Bazaar, said media reports.
The panic-stricken children rushed out of the three-story building. Few jumped from second and third floor of the building. The injured have been moved to District Headquarters Hospital, the report said.
The earthquake hit Pakistan at 8:25 am and tremors of the quake were also felt in places like Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Abbottabad, and Mardan. The earthquake was felt for 15 to 20 seconds.
According to the US Geological Survey, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.1.
The earthquake created panic among the citizens who fled their offices and homes. Some people began to recite verses from Islam’s holy book.
(With inputs from agencies)