Karachi has experienced a series of light earthquakes over the past three days, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Seismic Monitoring Centre confirming 16 minor tremors since Sunday.
The most recent jolt occurred on Tuesday morning at 9:57am, registering a magnitude of 2.8. According to the PMD, the epicenter was located 15 kilometers northeast of Malir at a depth of 40 kilometers. Earlier in the night, two quakes were recorded near the same area—one at midnight with a magnitude of 2.6, and another at 12:23am, measuring 2.8.
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Another noticeable tremor occurred on Tuesday at 6:42am near Korangi. It had a magnitude of 3.2 and a shallower depth of 11 kilometers, making it more strongly felt by residents in nearby areas.
The repeated seismic activity has affected parts of the city including Landhi, Quaidabad, Malir, and surrounding localities. Despite the frequency of these tremors, authorities have confirmed that there has been no reported loss of life or property damage.
Chief Meteorologist Aamir Haider said that the activity is linked to the Landhi Fault Line, which has become active after several decades. He explained that the fault is currently undergoing a normalisation process, releasing built-up energy in the form of light tremors.
“These minor earthquakes are actually helpful,” Haider said in a statement to Geo News. “They release underground pressure gradually, reducing the chances of a major quake.”
He noted that due to the shallow depth of some of the tremors, especially the one near Korangi, residents are more likely to feel the shaking even if the magnitude remains low. Haider added that buildings located on fault lines should be constructed to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6.
He also addressed public concerns about cracks appearing in some homes, clarifying that in most cases, these were the result of poor construction rather than seismic activity.
Another nearby fault line near Thana Bula Khan is also contributing to the ongoing seismic disturbances, he added.
