Karachi:
A series of soft earthquakes rocked Karachi on Sunday, with the strongest tremor recorded at 3.6 magnitude on the Richter scale.
People in the affected areas cited at least six aftershocks following the sweet Shaker on Sunday.
According to the seismic surveillance center of the Pakistan meteorological department, the epicenter was near Quidabad, and the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers at 5:33 pm Sunday. This marks the second tremor in Karachi this year, following an earthquake of magnitude of 4.7 on March 31.
Later in the night, replicas were felt in several districts, notably Malir, Landhi, Shah Faire Colony, Korangi and Jafar Tayyar Society. The second tremor, recorded at 1 h 03, had an amplitude of 3.2 with a depth of 12 kilometers, and its epicenter was near Gadap Town.
A third cycle of tremors has been reported in areas such as Quaidabad and Malir.
Repeated shocks have sent residents fleeing their houses, reciting prayers such as Kalima and Durood Sharif and remaining outside in fear. Some houses would have undergone minor structural damage, including cracks in the walls.
No major injury or damage has been reported, but fear and uncertainty have spread across the city.
Many people have said they rushed out of their homes when the beds started to tremble and be drained.
Adding fuel to the fire, so-called experts took social networks with details on the city’s flaw lines and the chances of a large earthquake.
An influencer in social media went so far as to claim that an excess of drawing of the groundwater moved the fault lines and the city and the city was about to live a huge earthquake.
The fact remains that Karachi is 150 km from the junction of three tectonic plates at sea, which makes her vulnerable to an earthquake and a tsunami.
Expert insight
Professor Associate and Geologist at the University of Karachi Dr Adnan Khan told Express Tribune that these tremors were minor and not a cause of alarm. He explained that Karachi is on a passive margin, far from all the main lines of flaw, which makes the big earthquakes destructive very improbable.
“These tremors are classified as” light tremors “, resulting from minor tectonic movements and the accumulation of stress deeply in the earth’s crust,” said Dr. Khan. He added that the tectonic activity of the Himalayas, which moves the mountain range north of four to five cm each year, causes distant pressure which can trigger such minor events.
He also noted that human activities, such as industrial burns and excessive extraction of groundwater, can subtly modify the structure of the earth, potentially influencing seismic behavior.
Dr. Khan advised citizens to stay calm for slight tremors and to follow the standard precautions – to immediately leave the buildings and to move to open areas, remaining away from the foundations or high structures.
Official response
Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi urged residents to stay calm and not to believe in rumors circulating on social networks.
He confirmed that he had consulted the chief meteorologist Ameer Haider Laghari, who assured him that the tremors were not dangerous, although minor activity could continue for the next seven days. He stressed that earthquakes cannot be predicted with certainty.
The affected areas included Quaidabad, Malir, Sadabad, Gulistan-E-Jauhar, Khokhrapar, Steel Town, Landhi, Korangi, Shah Latif Town and Bhains Colony. The residents declared to flee their houses during the shocks, engage in prayer and stay outside until the tremors pass.