Pakistan says Karachi tremors not unusual, no immediate threat of ‘major earthquake'
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department on Wednesday clarified there was no immediate threat of a major earthquake in Karachi, assuring citizens there was nothing unusual about several low-magnitude tremors felt in the city since June 1.
Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi experienced 57 low-magnitude tremors from June 1 which ranged from 1.5 to 3.8 on the Richter scale. The PMD has attributed the seismic swarm to the activation of a fault line in the city's Landhi area.
The frequent tremors in Karachi triggered panic among citizens on social media, who wondered whether the minor quakes were about to be followed by a major one.
The PMD mentioned that Karachi lies near the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, where small-scale stress accumulation can occasionally lead to such minor seismic releases. It said these tremors are considered 'normal geological phenomena' in tectonically active zones and do not indicate an impending major earthquake.
'At this stage, based on data and patterns observed, no immediate threat of a major earthquake has been identified,' the PMD said in a press release.
The PMD said similar to all seismically active regions, occasional mild tremors can continue to occur. It added that its team is continuously analyzing seismic data to ensure any unusual activity is detected in real-time.
It said most of the tremors occurred at shallow depths which were up to 70 kilometers, which is why they were felt by residents in various parts of the city.
'Local conditions, including soft soil, land reclamation, and unregulated groundwater extraction, may also influence how the shaking is felt at the surface,' the PMD said, urging the public not to panic.
The PMD advised the masses to remain informed through official channels only and avoid spreading unverified news or rumors that can cause unnecessary alarm.
'Avoid sharing or amplifying such claims, as they can cause panic and confusion,' it said. 'Rely only on information issued through official PMD channels.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
At least 31 killed, 43 injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan since June 27
ISLAMABAD: At least 31 people have been killed and 43 injured in total since June 27 in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab and Sindh provinces, a report by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said this week. Heavy rains have lashed Sindh, Punjab and KP provinces this week, raising water levels in rivers to alarming levels and triggering urban floods in some cities. As per the NDMA's report on Saturday, six people were killed in Punjab, 18 in KP and seven in Sindh from June 27 to 28. Punjab reported the largest number of injuries in the same period, 21, followed by Sindh with 16 and KP with six. The NDMA has issued a series of impact-based weather alerts across the country, forecasting ongoing and intensified rain-wind/thunderstorms over the next 24 to 48 hours. 'Persistent heavy downpours are expected to overwhelm drainage systems in urban centers, leading to significant urban flooding, especially in low-lying areas,' the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) said in a report, quoting the NDMA. 'Rapid and intense rainfall can trigger flash floods in local and seasonal streams, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions.' SWAT RIVER DEATH TOLL SURGES TO 12 Separately, the death toll from drowning in the wake of flash flooding in Pakistan's northwestern Swat River has climbed to 12, a leading emergency rescue service said on Sunday. Flash flooding due to heavy rain caused the Swat River water to rise to dangerous levels at several locations across the mountainous valley on Friday, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Rescue 1122 emergency service. Rescue 1122 KP spokesperson Bilal Faizi said on Friday a total of 16 people had been trapped in the floods, adding that three had been rescued. 'The body of Danial, who was from Mardan and lost his life in the Swat incident, has been recovered from the Charsadda,' Rescue 1122 said in a statement. 'With this recovery, the total number of confirmed deaths has risen to 12.' Rescue 1122 said its teams were searching for a missing child from Sialkot who was also among those trapped in the floods. State broadcaster Radio Pakistan said the deceased and missing persons belong to Pakistan's Sialkot, Daska and Mardan cities. Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is considered one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and faces extreme weather events with increasing frequency. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the NDMA to enhance coordination with provinces and issue timely weather alerts to citizens via cellphone messages.
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
5.3-magnitude quake hits central Pakistan
A magnitude-5.3 earthquake struck central Pakistan on Sunday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the shallow quake, which USGS reported had occurred around 3:30 am (2230 GMT) with the epicenter around 60 kilometers (37 miles) north-northeast of Barkhan, a city in Pakistan's mountainous Balochistan province. Pakistan straddles the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making the country susceptible to earthquakes. The region can be challenging to navigate during crisis situations -- in 2015, a 7.5-magnitude quake in Pakistan and Afghanistan killed almost 400 people across rugged terrain that impeded relief efforts. The country was also hit by a 7.6-magnitude quake in 2005 that killed more than 73,000 people and left about 3.5 million homeless, mainly in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Balochistan province, Pakistan's largest, saw a quake in 2021 that killed at least 20 people and left more than 10 injured, with landslides hampering initial rescue efforts in the remote mountainous district of Harnai.
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
5.3-magnitude quake hits central Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: A magnitude-5.3 earthquake struck central Pakistan on Sunday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the shallow quake, which USGS reported had occurred around 3:30 am (2230 GMT) with the epicenter around 60 kilometers (37 miles) north-northeast of Barkhan, a city in Pakistan's mountainous Balochistan province. Pakistan straddles the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making the country susceptible to earthquakes. The region can be challenging to navigate during crisis situations — in 2015, a 7.5-magnitude quake in Pakistan and Afghanistan killed almost 400 people across rugged terrain that impeded relief efforts. The country was also hit by a 7.6-magnitude quake in 2005 that killed more than 73,000 people and left about 3.5 million homeless, mainly in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Balochistan province, Pakistan's largest, saw a quake in 2021 that killed at least 20 people and left more than 10 injured, with landslides hampering initial rescue efforts in the remote mountainous district of Harnai.
