A 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck Lahore and adjoining areas on Friday, causing panic among residents who rushed out of homes and buildings for safety.According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), the quake had a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale and occurred at a depth of around 18 kilometres.The epicentre was identified in the Kashmir region.Despite the intensity of the tremors, no immediate reports of casualties or property damage were confirmed by authorities.The tremors were felt across several parts of Lahore and surrounding regions, leading to alarm and temporary disruption in normal activities.People were seen evacuating buildings as a precautionary measure.Officials reassured the public that monitoring was ongoing and urged citizens to remain calm and follow safety guidelines during seismic activity.Pakistan lies in a seismically active zone due to its location on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.The continuous northward movement of the Indian plate beneath the Eurasian plate makes the region vulnerable to earthquakes of varying intensity.

The country has experienced several devastating earthquakes in the past, including the 2005 Azad Kashmir earthquake, which resulted in over 73,000 deaths and widespread destruction, and the 2021 Harnai earthquake in Balochistan, which killed at least 20 people and disrupted rescue operations due to difficult terrain.

Experts continue to stress the importance of earthquake preparedness, especially in high-risk regions where rugged geography can hinder emergency response efforts.Authorities emphasise the need for improved infrastructure resilience and public awareness to minimise risks during future seismic events.