Mud volcano surfaces along Balochistan coast

Fishermen report emergence of mud volcano three kilometers off Balochistan’s coast overlooking the Hingol area.

QUETTA:

Fishermen reported on Friday the emergence of a mud volcano three kilometers off Balochistan’s coast overlooking the Hingol area, about 15o kilometres from the port town of Ormara.

According to local fishermen, a three-kilometre wide and 300-feet high island of mud sludge emerged off the coast. This area administratively falls under the jurisdiction of the Lasbela district.

A number of fishermen arrived there and hoisted flags while the others tried to salvage some fishing vessels which were trapped in the newly-emerged island.

They said that this kind of landmass had first emerged in 2004 and the Maritime Security Agency had taken control of it. However, the island disappeared after three months because of certain geographical changes.

According to locals, the island was three-kilometre-long island was called ‘Peer Ghaib’ after it disappeared. A mud volcano is formed when fluidised soft mud is expelled at high rates.

There are several clusters of mud volcanoes in Balochistan, mostly near Hingol, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara and elsewhere in Lasbela district.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2010.