‘Impossible to predict quake’

Fuelled by X handles with thousands of followers, rumours circulating on social media and WhatsApp groups in Pakistan claim that a major earthquake is likely to hit the country in the next 48 hours.

A post shared on the microblogging platform, citing Dutch Scientist Frank Hoogerbeets, member of Solar System Geometry Survey (SSGEOS), who in the past used planetary alignments to predict fatal earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, claimed that the scientist has once again predicted that in the next 48 hours, a strong earthquake was going to "rock Pakistan".

"Earthquake" is currently the top trend in the country on X as many people fearing for their lives seek guidance from the authorities.

Director National Tsunami Centre Karachi Amir Haider Laghari said that where and when the earthquake would occur cannot be exactly predicted.

He said that the boundaries of two major tectonic plates pass through Pakistan, stretching from Sonmiani to the northern region of Pakistan, adding that an earthquake could occur at any point within these boundary lines, which is not possible to predict.

Laghari recalled that in 1892, there was an earthquake of 9 to 10 magnitude on the Chaman fault line, while in 1935, there was a strong quake in the Chiltan range, in which thousands of people died.

In February, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) had also dismissed the scientist's prediction regarding a quake to hit India and Pakistan, which later proved to be hearsay.

Moreover, Weather Updates Pakistan also added its voice in negating the assertion and held that there was never an accurate prediction model which could exactly anticipate the possible hitting of the earthquake in any part of the world's region.

It argued that scientists could only predict quakes based on past patterns.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2023.