Kohlu rattled by third earthquake in two days

QUETTA: A fresh earthquake rattled the Kohlu district of Balochistan on Saturday, the third such tremor to hit the area within two days, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) in Quetta.

The latest quake registered a magnitude of 4.3 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre located 40 kilometres north of Kohlu at a depth of 15 kilometres — shallower than the previous tremor.

However, no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage have been received so far.

The renewed seismic activity follows two separate tremors the previous day, leaving residents unsettled and wary of further aftershocks.

The most significant of those earlier quakes — measuring 5.1 in magnitude — caused tangible destruction. At least three people, including a child, sustained injuries and approximately 70 houses were partially damaged in Kingri, according to Abdul Razaq Khajak, the Deputy Commissioner of Musa Khel.

The injuries occurred in separate wall collapse incidents, with the injured subsequently transferred to the nearby hospital for medical treatment.

That quake, recorded by the NSMC at a depth of 17 kilometres, had its epicentre 60 kilometres northeast of Kohlu, with tremors felt as far afield as Zhob, Barkhan and Rakhni.

Later, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the earthquake was the third time in a single day.

The first earthquake was recorded at 10:25am, followed by a second at 10:58am, while the third tremor was felt at 4:49pm, the Met Office said.

Earlier in the afternoon, earthquake tremors had also been felt in Kohlu.

A 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck Lahore and adjoining areas earlier this month, prompting residents to rush out of their homes and buildings in panic.

The NSMC said on June 5 that the earthquake measured 4.9 in magnitude and struck at a depth of 18 kilometres, with its epicentre located in the Kashmir region.

Pakistan’s susceptibility to earthquakes stems from its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. 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.