Mirpur/Jhelum (Staff Report/Agencies): At least seven people lost their lives and more than 120 wounded after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolt particularly areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers with its epicenter lying 1km southeast of Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
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Tremors were also felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Charsadda, Swat, Khyber, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Nowshera, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar and Kohitan.
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Damage was reported from Mirpur city of Azad Kashmir, where a young girl was buried alive after the building she was inside collapsed. Besides her, three other people from Mirpur and its adjoining areas reportedly died at a local hospital where they were shifted in critical condition.
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The Mangla-Jatlan highway has been severely damaged by the quake, leaving the motorists stranded and their vehicles damaged.
President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister have expressed grief over the incident. PM Khan has also directed authorities concerned to launch rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa directed immediate rescue operation in aid of civil administration.
