Pakistan has experienced a series of earthquakes recently, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). Karachi, in particular, has felt 36 minor tremors since June 1st, a phenomenon attributed to activity along the Landhi fault line. The latest of these in Karachi, a 2.6 magnitude quake, occurred at 1:45 AM today, originating 8 kilometers southeast of Malir at a depth of 10 kilometers. The PMD has assured residents that all the earthquakes in this swarm have been minor.
On the same day, a 2.8 magnitude earthquake was also recorded near Quetta, felt by residents there. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre placed its origin 75 kilometers northeast of Quetta at a depth of 23 kilometers.
Just the day before, a mild 4.7 magnitude earthquake affected Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This tremor was linked to seismic activity in the Hindu Kush mountain range of Afghanistan, occurring at a depth of 211 kilometers. This highlights the widespread seismic activity currently affecting different regions of Pakistan.
Approximately a month ago, a stronger 5.3 magnitude earthquake shook Islamabad and various parts of KP, including Mardan, Swat, Nowshera, Swabi, and North Waziristan. This earthquake also originated in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, at a depth of 230 kilometers.
Prior to this, two other notable earthquakes impacted KP, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Punjab, and parts of Afghanistan.
On April 12th, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck numerous cities across northern Punjab, KP, and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, originating at a reported depth of 12 kilometers. Cities in Punjab like Attock and Chakwal, as well as KP cities like Peshawar, Mardan, Mohmand, Swabi, Nowshera, Lakki Marwat, Lower Dir, Malakand, and Shabqadar, all reported feeling the tremors.
Just a few days later, on April 16th, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake again impacted areas of KP, AJK, Punjab, and regions within Afghanistan.
Earthquakes are relatively common in Pakistan, due to the country’s location on the active boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The continuous northward movement of the Indian plate colliding with the Eurasian plate results in significant seismic activity across much of South Asia.
