Mock tsunami drill to test response system
A large-scale mock tsunami drill will be conducted along the Makran coast on October 15, Wednesday, to test Pakistan's early warning and emergency response systems in the event of an undersea earthquake. The simulated quake, measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, will allow authorities to assess communication tools, public alert mechanisms, and regional coordination among coastal countries.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the artificial earthquake scenario will begin at 11am, with the epicentre set in the Arabian Sea off the Makran coast. The exercise aims to evaluate the functionality of communication equipment, alert dissemination to coastal populations, and the response time of participating countries following a simulated tsunami warning. Director of the National Tsunami Centre (NTC) and Chief Meteorologist Ameer Haider Laghari told Express News that the drill will be observed from the National Seismic Centre in Karachi. Three countries - Australia, Indonesia, and India - will issue tsunami bulletins as "service providers," while several other countries, including Iran, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, and Yemen will also participate.
Laghari explained that the exercise will test advanced communication systems, including the Global Telecommunication System (GTS), WhatsApp, SMS services, and other real-time tools. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed for Karachi, rural Sindh, and coastal Balochistan, outlining evacuation and safety procedures once the tsunami sirens are triggered. Karachi's coastal neighborhoods, Ibrahim Hyderi and Keamari, have been equipped with siren posts (tsunami alert towers) capable of sounding alarms within five minutes of detecting seismic activity in the sea. Similar systems have been installed in Pasni, Ormara, and Gwadar in Balochistan. The sirens will automatically activate when an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 or higher is recorded, immediately notifying locals and authorities to begin evacuation and implement safety measures.