Earthquake shakes parts of Karachi

• Earthquake struck Karachi at 6:01pm: PMD.
• Earthquake epicentre located within Karachi: PMD.
• No immediate reports of casualties or damage.
  

A 2.9-magnitude earthquake was felt in different parts of Karachi on Friday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The PMD said that the earthquake struck at 6:01pm, with its epicentre located within the port city.

According to the Met Office, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage following the tremors.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in Pakistan, as the country is situated on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Large parts of South Asia are seismically active because a tectonic plate known as the Indian plate is pushing north into the Eurasian plate.

The country has experienced multiple devastating quakes in recent decades.

In February this year, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Islamabad, Swat, and Hunza, while the 2005 quake in Azad Kashmir killed over 73,000 people and left millions homeless.

Balochistan also suffered in 2021, when a quake in Harnai killed at least 20 people and hampered rescue operations due to landslides.

Experts warn that the rugged terrain of Pakistan’s earthquake-prone areas complicates relief efforts and makes preparedness critical.