A powerful earthquake shook Pakistan’s capital on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
There have been a number of quakes in the country since October 8’s massive tremor killed an estimated 87 000 people and left more than 3,5-million others homeless in north-western Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The state-run Seismological Centre in the north-western city of Peshawar confirmed the latest temblor, but did not have details on its intensity. It wasn’t immediately clear where the quake was centred.
Local television channels reported that the quake also jolted Kashmir and north-western Pakistan.
Nias Island
Earlier on Sunday, Indonesia’s Nias island was hit by three strong tremors ahead of the arrival of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was to celebrate Christmas on the mainly Christian island.
Three earthquakes struck off the island of Sumatra between 7.08am local time and 10.16am, with magnitudes of 4,6, 4,7 and 5,4, Jakarta meteorological office worker Budi said.
”We have registered three earthquakes, but there were no reports of damage and the possibility of casualties is very little because these earthquakes are moderate by Indonesian standards,” he said.
The first quake alone was felt on Nias island, he added. The others were felt on Sumatra.
Yudhoyono and his East Timorese counterpart, Xanana Gusmao, were due to arrive on the island later on Sunday to attend a Christmas service.
The quake was felt only briefly, causing minor panic at a field in Gunung Sitoli where about 2 000 people were waiting for the presidents’ arrival, a reporter at the scene said.
Presidential chief media officer Garibaldi Sujatmiko said the two presidents would attend the service at the Pelita soccer field and Yudhoyono would deliver his Christmas message to residents in the town.
Nias was devastated by an earthquake in March that killed more than 900 people. — Sapa-AP, Sapa-AFP