Light tremor shakes many neighbourhoods

KARACHI:

The light earthquake tremors felt in the city at 6:36pm on Monday created panic in many neighbourhoods. It was the third low-intensity shaker this year, which can be taken as a wakeup call to check the city’s earthquake preparedness.

Given the faulty structures of the city, ageing buildings and infrastructures, town planning experts have time and again warned of disaster if a quake occurs in the metropolis.

On Monday evening, the tremors were felt in different areas of the city including Clifton Block 2, Lyari, Saddar, II Chundrigar Road and other places, due to which fear and panic spread among the residents.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the intensity of the earthquake was recorded at 3.2 on the Richter scale. The depth of the earthquake was recorded at 22km with the epicentre said to be 15 kilometres north-east of Karachi.

No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city due to the earthquake. It should be noted that two earthquakes of low intensity have been recorded in the city during this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2024.