An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Thursday, spreading panic among residents.

According to the Seismological Centre, the epicentre of the earthquake was located in the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, at a depth of 111 kilometres.

Tremors were strongly felt in Peshawar, Swat, Mardan, Kohat, Upper Dir, Malakand, Buner, Kurram, Shangla, Hangu, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Attock and Daudkhel.

The quake forced people to rush out of their homes and offices, though no immediate reports of casualties or damage were received till the filing of this report.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, while disaster management teams have been put on alert in the affected areas.