A mild earthquake, measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale, shook various parts of Karachi late on Monday night, as reported by local media.
The tremors were felt in several areas, including Malir District, Quaidabad, Shah Latif Town, Sherpao Colony, Landhi, Muzaffarabad Colony, Muslimabad Colony, Steel Town, and their neighboring regions. The sudden seismic activity prompted people to rush out of their homes in panic, where many turned to reciting verses from the Holy Quran for solace. Fortunately, there were no reports of any casualties or damage to property in any part of Karachi due to the earthquake.
According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre in Islamabad, the epicenter of the earthquake was identified in the Quaidabad area of Karachi, at a depth of approximately 15 kilometers. Karachi’s geographical location places it in close proximity to a major fault line, where the Indian tectonic plate intersects with the Arabian tectonic plate. Seismologists note that nearly 95 percent of all recorded earthquakes occur along fault lines, where two or more tectonic plates converge.
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In addition to its proximity to a major fault line, Karachi is also situated on or near four minor fault lines. The first is known as the Allah Bund fault, which traverses the coastal town of Shah Bundar, the vicinity around Pakistan Steel Mills, and extends through the eastern parts of the city, ultimately ending near Cape Monz. Another fault line is located in the Rann of Kutch near Sindh’s southeastern border with India. The third, named the Pubb fault, is situated near the Mekran coast west of the city, while the fourth is positioned in the Dadu district on Karachi’s northern boundary.
Karachi residents are no strangers to the occasional tremors, given the city’s geological location, and local authorities continue to monitor and prepare for such seismic events to ensure the safety of the population.