Karachi city witnessed a strange surge in seismic activity, with 19 small tremors between June 1 and June 3, the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) of Pakistan Meteorological Department reported.
Sunday evening witnessed the most intense tremor, which was 3.6 on the Richter scale. Information provided by the NTWC reveals that the earthquake shook at 5:33pm on Sunday evening and was the most powerful of all recent earthquakes. The weakest earthquake, which was recorded in DHA City, was 2.1 in magnitude.
Tsunami Center officials called the conditions unprecedented, saying Karachi has never had so many localized tremors in such a short time.
“There is no previous history of such seismic activity in the city,” said a spokesman for the NTWC, describing the trend as “highly unusual.”
Out of the 19 recorded tremors, District Malir experienced 11, while the southwestern regions of Korangi and the northeastern regions of DHA felt the rest. Although small, the occurrence has caused fear among the populace.
The authorities have not yet established the reason for the sudden occurrence of these tremors but efforts at monitoring have been ramped up. Seismologists have urged citizens to remain calm but alert as the assessment continues.
CM expresses concern over potential pre-shocks
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah called small-scale tremors “a good thing” because they release the earth’s energy, but he also warned about the likelihood of a large-scale earthquake, expressing concern that these tremors might be pre-shocks that often lead to major seismic activity.
“I studied earthquake engineering a long time ago these low-scale tremors are actually a good thing – the earth is releasing its energy,” he said.
Addressing the media following the opening of a children’s physical and neurodevelopmental conditions rehabilitation centre in Karachi, Shah was critical of the evacuation of prisoners from prison because of the tremors.
