New island emerges off Kund Malir coast

This area is one of the largest volcanic sites in Pakistan

KARACHI:

In a surprising development, a new island has emerged off the coast of Kund Malir, a coastal town in Balochistan.

The area is popular for new emerging islands and erupting volcanoes mainly caused due to the bursting of large amounts of hydrates and lithium gases trapped on the bottom of the ocean floor.

This new island spanning over a wide area has emerged in the Chadam area, which is situated at a distance of about 41 kms from Karachi between Ormara and Kund Malir.

In 2013, a survey report observed that a number of islands had formed in the coastal area but later submerged back into the sea.

Due to geographical alterations, a tsunami was recorded near Kund Malir on November 29, 1945. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Technical Director Moazzam Khan confirmed that the island first appeared at the Chadham area.

He explained that hydrates gas deposits are located at a considerable depth in this area. “When the pressure of these gases increases, they are expelled in the form of volcanoes and islands,” Khan said, adding that the area is geologically very active as witnessed from the land eruptions of the past.

It is pertinent to mention that islands have also appeared on this coastal site in 2000, 2010 and 2013 as well.

However, after some time, these islands automatically submerged back into the sea.

It is also an indication that there are abundant reserves of hydrates gas in the earth's crust.

According to the technical director of WWF, the area in which the island emerged is one of the largest volcanic sites in Pakistan.

“These gases erupt from whereever they find their way through,” he said. “These volcanoes are found in abundance between Chandragupta and Ormara.”

Khan further said the gases from the bottom of the sea emerge in the form of fissures or oceanic islands. “Its distinctive feature is that if the surface of the newly emerging island is lit by matches, it will cause a fire.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2021.