Mild tremors felt in Karachi as 3.6-magnitude quake strikes
Karachi residents experienced low-intensity earthquakes through Sunday night to Monday morning with at least four tremors reported across the city. Ameer Haider Laghari, Head of the National Tsunami Warning Centre Karachi, said the Landhi fault line in Karachi had become active.
He explained that energy had built up along the fault line, which is now being gradually released, resulting in mild tremors across parts of the city.
Laghari said tremors may continue for one to two days, but their intensity is expected to gradually decline.
Read: Earthquake hits Balochistan's Barkhan district
He urged residents not to panic, adding that this is part of a natural seismic process.
At least four tremors were felt within 24 hours.
The most recent quake measured 3.2 on the Richter scale with the city's densely populated Quaidabad area as its epicentre. The area's residents had also experienced a similar 3.6-magnitude tremor at 5:33pm yesterday.
Both earthquakes during the night originated at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres beneath the surface.
The third tremor was reported in areas including Quaidabad, Malir, and surrounding neighbourhoods. Residents described hearing unusual noises from birds and animals during the night, which added to their anxiety.
Tremors were felt in parts of Karachi on Sunday evening, with a magnitude of 3.6 recorded on the Richter scale. According to the Meteorological Department's Seismological Centre, the epicentre of the earthquake was near Quaidabad, and the depth was recorded at 10 kilometres.
Aftershocks stir panic across city late at night
Tremors were felt in several parts of Karachi at 1.03 AM, prompting residents in areas such as Malir Khokhrapar, Shah Faisal Colony, Landhi, Korangi, Jafar Tayyar (Malir), Bakra Peeri, Landhi Future Mor, Gul Ahmed, and Hospital Chowrangi to flee their homes in fear, reciting religious prayers and seeking safety outdoors.
Subsequently, further tremors were felt in Shah Latif Town, Bhains Colony, and nearby localities.
According to the Seismological Centre, the second quake had a magnitude of 3.2 and occurred at a depth of 12 kilometres, with its epicentre near Gadap Town, Karachi.
Read More: Earthquake tremors jolt Islamabad and several regions of Pakistan
Later, a third tremor was reported in areas including Quaidabad, Malir, and surrounding neighbourhoods. Residents described hearing unusual noises from birds and animals during the night, which added to their anxiety.
People were seen reciting 'Allah-u-Akbar,' 'Kalima Tayyaba,' and 'Durood Sharif,' while many reportedly sought forgiveness in fear. Some homes reportedly sustained minor damage, including cracks in walls.
These tremors come just two months after a moderate earthquake struck the city. On March 31, a magnitude 4.7 quake was recorded 75 kilometres north of Karachi, with tremors felt at 4:11 PM. That quake, at a depth of 19 kilometres, caused no reported damage but led to widespread public concern and online discussion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Northern tourism buckles under harsh weather
The landslides have uprooted several trees, which have fallen into the Kunhar River, spreading dust clouds and causing widespread fear among residents of Mahandri, Balakot. PHOTO: EXPRESS Where the recent pattern of heavy rains, landslides, and flash floods across Pakistan's northern regions has caused significant loss of life and property for the local population, it has also ruined the summer itineraries of several seasonal tourists from across various cities. According to the Meteorological Department, this monsoon season has brought far more rain than usual. In Chakwal alone, 423 mm of rainfall was recorded by mid-July, which is twice the multi-year average. Roads were blocked in Murree, Soon Valley, Kalabagh, and other locations, leaving dozens of tourists stranded while rescue operations too were severely hampered due to ongoing downpours. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, at least 13 tourists drowned while spending time near the Swat river. The sudden rise in water levels and a lack of safety measures contributed to the tragedy. Similarly, in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer district, three people were killed and 15 reported missing due to landslides, while several sections of the Karakoram Highway were also closed. Following these dangerous incidents, a noticeable decline has been observed in the willingness of tourists to travel to the north. Imran Ahmed, a resident of Lahore, said, "We used to visit Murree or Kalam every year, but the recent tragedies are heartbreaking." Another citizen, Tariq Mahmood, shared, "While on the way to Soon Valley, we got reports of landslides and decided to return. These areas no longer feel safe." Experts believe that extreme weather, encroachments, and weak infrastructure are putting tourist destinations at serious risk hence amplifying the urgent need for the government to focus on early warning systems, emergency planning, and environmental protection. Nadeem Shehzad, a well-known tour operator from Lahore, confirmed that many tours were cancelled at the start of July due to unexpected weather conditions. "Tourists were instead offered safer alternatives, which most accepted. While the summer season is peak business time for the tourism industry, professional operators always prioritize the safety of their clients. Some unlicensed tour operators, however, use misleading social media content to encourage trips to high-risk areas, which can be life-threatening," informed Shehzad. In response to the situation, the Punjab Tourism Department has decided to introduce Tourism Quality Standards at all tourist spots. According to Tourism Secretary Raja Jahangir Anwar, health and safety protocols will be made mandatory at all destinations. Road construction will also be carried out in a way that minimizes the risk of landslides, while encroachments on drainage systems will also be removed. "Punjab has been divided into three tourism zones: northern regions (Murree, Kotli Sattian), natural lakes and rivers, and southern Punjab. Among these, the northern areas are the most vulnerable to weather-related risks. The Punjab government has allocated a tourism development budget of Rs18 billion for the first time, aimed at upgrading existing tourist spots, improving safety measures, and reviving new destinations," claimed Anwar. The Tourism Secretary further urged the public to check weather and security updates from the Tourism Department's website and the PDMA helpline before planning any trips, in order to avoid any unpleasant incidents.
Business Recorder
02-08-2025
- Business Recorder
Moderate quake jolts parts of country
ISLAMABAD: An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale jolted parts of Pakistan in the wee hours of Saturday. The tremors were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Haripur, Shangla, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Dir, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Kasur, Kahota, and several other cities of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The earthquake also jolted different cities of Azad Kashmir. People came out of their homes in panic and started reciting verses from the Holy Quran. No loss of life and property was reported from any part of the country due to earthquake. According to National Seismic Monitoring Centre, Islamabad, the epicenter was located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, at a depth of 102 kilometres.
Express Tribune
02-08-2025
- Express Tribune
Earthquake felt in northern Pakistan early Saturday
Listen to article Tremors were felt across several regions of Pakistan early Saturday morning, though no immediate reports of casualties or property damage were received, Express News reported. According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake measured 5.4 on the Richter scale, with a depth of 122 kilometres. Its epicentre was recorded in the Hindu Kush region, approximately 102 kilometres from Bajaur. The tremors were felt in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Affected cities included Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Haripur, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Mingora (Swat), Hazara Division, as well as areas of Hatian Bala, Jhelum Valley, and Chinari. Reports also confirmed tremors in Ghizer and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, along with neighbouring Afghanistan and Tajikistan. In Islamabad, the earthquake coincided with heavy rainfall, further heightening public anxiety.
