Back-to-back earthquakes of 4.9 and 4.8 magnitude shake Kashmir

Two consecutive earthquakes struck the Kashmir Valley early on Tuesday morning, both originating in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Fortunately, no casualties or property damage have been reported so far.

The first tremor, registering a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale, occurred at 6:45 a.m. with its epicenter located at a latitude of 34.17 degrees north and longitude of 74.16 degrees east. The earthquake's depth was measured at 5 kilometers beneath the earth's surface, according to Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Department.

Just seven minutes later, at 6:52 a.m., a second earthquake struck the same region. This tremor, slightly weaker at 4.8 magnitude, had an epicenter positioned at 34.20 degrees north latitude and 74.31 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10 kilometers.

Both earthquakes were felt across the Kashmir Valley, causing residents in many areas to rush out of their homes in fear. The incidents prompted a flurry of phone calls as anxious individuals checked on the safety of their loved ones.

Provincial authorities have confirmed that there have been no reports of injuries or damage to infrastructure as a result of the earthquakes.

The Kashmir Valley is known for its vulnerability to seismic activity, lying within a region prone to earthquakes. The memory of the devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005, which claimed over 80,000 lives across the Line of Control in Kashmir, is a reminder of the region's seismic risks.