Quake threat looms as Landhi fault line awakens

People of the densely populated areas of Landhi, Korangi, Quaidabad and Malir are literally shaken by the repeated, though, minor earthquakes.

In the past 23 days, the city has experienced a total of 57 earthquakes, with most being minor to mild in intensity. However, some of the tremors have been significant, including one earthquake with a 3.8 magnitude, another with a magnitude of 3.7, and two earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.6. This recent surge in seismic activity has raised concerns among experts.

According to the Head of the National Tsunami Centre, Ameer Hyder Laghari, the earthquakes are linked to the Landhi fault line, one of the two active fault lines in the Karachi region. As per Laghari, in 2009, 36 earthquakes were recorded on the Landhi fault line over four months, and the series continued until 2021.

The recent series of earthquakes consisted of 57 tremors recorded so far, mostly of low intensity, but four significant quakes with magnitudes between 3.8 and 3.6. The National Tsunami Centre and Meteorological Department have released data showing that most of these quakes were recorded in Malir, Landhi, and the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) areas.

According to Laghari, the fault line in Karachi is not a recent development, but has existed for centuries. Earthquakes have been recorded in the 18th and 19th centuries as well, although the intensity was not documented the same way as today, due to the lack of modern equipment. In the past, however, the area along the fault line was covered with forests and gardens, but now has been largely converted into residential areas. Laghari stated that converting past forests and gardens into solid constructions and unplanned human settlements is equivalent to damaging the ecosystem, stressing that it is necessary to encourage earthquake-proof constructions in areas near the fault line, similar to Japan's approach. He pointed out that in Japan, people also live near fault lines, but have designed their buildings to withstand natural disasters. He stressed the need for policies ensuring that constructions near the fault line are earthquake-proof, or built to a standard that can withstand earthquakes. This would require a specific approach to construction, and civil work that prioritises seismic resilience.

Laghari mentioned that micro-level studies have been conducted, which recorded the earthquakes on the Richter scale, even if they were not felt by the population, in order to better understand the causes of the recent quakes. He also urged that people be made aware of the earthquake risk, and be guided on safe construction practices, in order to mitigate the associated risks.