On Sunday night, residents of Jhal Magsi district in Balochistan, Pakistan experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.3. The tremors were felt across the district, causing panic among people who rushed out of their homes and offices. The meteorological department reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 20 km southwest of Jhal Magsi. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damages.
This earthquake comes just days after a powerful earthquake hit several areas in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the capital Islamabad. This previous earthquake resulted in at least nine fatalities and over 160 injuries.
Pakistan is situated on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it prone to natural disasters like earthquakes. South Asia is a seismically active area due to the Indian plate pushing north into the Eurasian plate.
In another recent seismic disturbance, residents in the Lasbela region of Balochistan experienced a 4.3 magnitude earthquake on Thursday morning. The tremors were also felt in Lasbela and neighboring areas, causing many people to evacuate their homes. The epicenter of the earthquake was located 56 km northeast of Bela, with a depth of 41 km. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
It is worth noting that this region had previously experienced a seismic disturbance on January 29 when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook parts of Islamabad. The PMD’s National Seismic Monitoring Centre recorded a depth of 150 km, with the epicenter in Tajikistan. However, the US Geological Survey reported the magnitude as 4.4, with a depth of 32.4 km. The earthquake was described by locals as “very strong.”
These recent earthquakes highlight the importance of disaster preparedness and mitigation measures in Pakistan.
