ISLAMABAD, May 9 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit Pakistani capital Islamabad and parts of the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and east Punjab provinces on Wednesday morning, local meteorological office said.

The meteorological department said on its website that the epicenter of the quake was located 20 km northwest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu district and its depth was determined as 12 km.

The quake created panic among the people but no loss of life or property has been reported.