Series of Mild Earthquakes Hit Karachi

Since Sunday, Karachi has experienced 16 minor earthquakes, according to data released on Tuesday by the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) Seismic Monitoring Centre.

The most recent earthquake was recorded at 9:57 a.m., registering a magnitude of 2.8. Its point of origin was located 15 kilometers northeast of Malir, at a depth of 40 kilometers.

On Monday night, two prior tremors were detected. The initial tremor occurred at midnight, measuring 2.6 in magnitude, while the subsequent one struck at 12:23 a.m., with a magnitude of 2.8. Both originated at a depth of 40km near Malir.

A third tremor was felt near Korangi around 6:42 a.m. on Tuesday. It had a magnitude of 3.2 and occurred at a shallower depth of 11 kilometers.

The successive tremors have been felt in Landhi, Quaidabad, Malir, and surrounding areas. To date, there have been no reports of damage or injuries.

Chief Meteorologist Aamir Haider stated that the Landhi Fault Line, which had been inactive for decades, is now active and undergoing a normalisation phase.

He clarified that these smaller earthquakes could continue for up to a week as energy is gradually released, which helps mitigate the possibility of a major earthquake. The recent earthquakes are more noticeable due to their shallow depth.

Haider recommended that buildings situated on fault lines should be constructed to withstand tremors up to magnitude 6. He also suggested that reported cracks in certain residences are probably attributable to structural deficiencies.

Another fault line near Thana Bula Khan is also contributing to the ongoing seismic activity.