An earthquake also known as a quake, tremor or temblor is the shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent enough to toss people around and destroy whole cities.

The seismicity, or seismic activity, of an area is the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time. The word tremor is also used for non-earthquake seismic rumbling.

At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and displacing or disrupting the ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may be displaced sufficiently to cause a tsunami. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides, and occasionally volcanic activity.

A moderate intensity earthquake of magnitude 5.6 rocked Kashmir Tuesday causing panic among the residents who ran out of their homes.

The earthquake struck at 10.17 pm and lasted several seconds as people ran out of their homes, fearing for their safety, an official said.

The epicentre of the quake was at a depth of 40 kilometres in northwestern Kashmir, 118 kilometres from Srinagar, the officials said.

There were no reports of any casualties or damage due to the quack so far.