ISLAMABAD, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Panicked people rushed out of their homes as an earthquake jolted Pakistan's capital city Islamabad early Monday morning.

The earthquake, which measures 5.3 on the Richter scale, took place at about 2:45 a.m. Monday local time and the tremor lasted only for a few seconds.

According to an official with the local Met Office, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 10 kilometers down the earth in Hazara area, a place some 20 kilometers northwest of Islamabad.

The tremor was also felt in most parts of northwest Pakistan including Peshawar, Muzaffarabad and Mansehra.

No casualties and damage have been reported in the earthquake, said Director General of Met Office during an interview with a local TV station.