Magnitude 4.6 earthquake in Pakistan kills 1, injures 9

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck eastern Pakistan, killing a child and injuring nine other people after homes were damaged, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and local officials.

The earthquake struck at about 9:47 p.m. local time on Tuesday and was centered south of Islamabad, near Malakwal City in Punjab province, according to the USGS. It struck at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles).

ARY News, citing local authorities, reported that a 12-year-old child was killed in Jalalpur Sharif when the roof of a house collapsed. Nine other people were injured when walls collapsed.

Local reports said the shaking and related landslides damaged multiple homes in the affected area of eastern Pakistan. Residents in several cities ran out of their homes after the shaking.

Earthquakes of low magnitudes usually cause none to limited damage, but they can still be deadly when they strike near populated areas and where buildings are older, poorly reinforced or not designed to withstand shaking.

Damage also depends on the earthquake’s depth, distance from communities and local ground conditions.