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India Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
Over 20 mild earthquakes shake Karachi in 48 hours, experts warn of bigger quake
Since Sunday night, a swarm of mild earthquakes has rattled Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, sparking concern, confusion, and a flurry of forecasts. Karachi has recorded at least 21 low- to moderate-intensity tremors -- ranging from magnitude 2.1 to 3.6 -- in less than 48 hours, but experts remain divided on whether a larger, more dangerous quake is most powerful tremor so far, a magnitude 3.6 jolt on Sunday night, caused a partial collapse of the Malir Jail wall, allowing 216 prisoners to escape, news agency PTI the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has urged calm, some independent voices are sounding the alarm. 'The earthquake tremors of mild intensity will continue for the next two to three days, and the situation will improve as the intensity of the quakes will reduce,' PMD Director General Mahr Sahibzad Khan reassured citizens. As the city experienced continuous tremors, social media was full of posts about a potential major earthquake. The debate took a serious turn when a private Pakistani geologist said he predicted the Karachi earthquakes well before they occurred and that a major earthquake was due on Friday and Saturday Shahbaz Laghari, CEO of the private Earthquake News & Research Centre, offered a sharply different view.'Our research shows that a series of small tremors often signals a major earthquake is on its way,' he said, warning that 'the nights of Friday and Saturday are particularly critical for Karachiites this week.'advertisementLaghari added that his team had accurately predicted the recent tremors and urged the Sindh government to issue public warnings. 'Karachi has small fault lines in areas of Korangi and Malir that are causing minor earthquakes,' he other experts pushed back on the doomsday predictions.'There is nothing to worry about for the people of Karachi,' DG Khan Chief Meteorologist Amir Hyder Laghari noted the activation of a historical fault line in the region: 'The fault is releasing its seismic energy,' he said, suggesting the tremor frequency should subside within a DG Khan, too, said there is 'nothing to worry about for people of Karachi.'Curiously, neither the United States Geological Survey (USGS) nor India's National Centre for Seismology (NCS) recorded any seismic activity in the Karachi region since Sunday, raising further questions about local monitoring and reporting inputs from PTI
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Geologist claims he predicted Karachi earthquakes four days in advance
Listen to article A Pakistani geologist says he predicted the Karachi earthquakes well before they occurred. Shahbaz Laghari, CEO of the Earthquake News & Research Centre, has claimed that his team had predicted the recent tremors in Karachi four days in advance, a forecast he says is supported by prior documented evidence. While speaking at a news conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad on Tuesday, Laghari insisted that his earthquake warnings are grounded in scientific research. He further claimed that the proprietary system developed by his centre can issue early warnings up to 128 hours (more than five days) before an earthquake occurs. The geologist further revealed that countries like the UK, Canada, and Bangladesh have invited him to collaborate, recognising the potential of his early-warning technology. He also claimed that his team correctly predicted a series of earthquakes in Greece, and that the Greek government took precautionary measures based on their alerts. However, Laghari expressed frustration over the criticism he faces in Pakistan, saying that some local officials discourage him from issuing early warnings, fearing they may cause public panic. During the press conference, a TV clip of government seismology officer Ameer Haider was played, in which the official advised against creating fear through early alerts. Laghari defended his position, going as far as saying, 'If my system is proven wrong, hang me.' He made a direct appeal to the president, prime minister, and Punjab CM, urging them to recognise his research before the country loses out on an international breakthrough. 'This might be my last press conference,' he warned. He claimed that he has received job offers from abroad, but his ultimate goal is to serve Pakistan. He expressed confidence in his ability to develop world-class instruments and software that could bring global recognition to the country. Laghari also turned his attention to recent seismic activity in Karachi, questioning why the small tremors being felt across the city are being ignored. 'These tremors will occur five to ten more times,' he warned, adding that the nights of Friday and Saturday are particularly critical and the Sindh government should warn the public in advance. Recalling a recent incident, he said that the collapse of the Malir Jail wall was the result of a 10-kilometre-deep earthquake. 'Had the tremor originated from a depth of seven or eight kilometres, the entire prison could have been destroyed,' he said. 'Our research shows that a series of small tremors often signals a major earthquake is on its way,' he added.
