LAHORE: Increase in the frequency of earthquakes after major incident of October 26 is quite normal, geologists say. “The incidents will continue till settlement of Indian and Eurasian plates after major shaking on October 26,” said Dr Sajid Rasheed, Principal of Punjab University’s College of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The biggest ever earthquake of 8.1 magnitude hit the country on October 26 that followed by series of aftershocks of varying intensities on the same day. Rupture was located 193 kilometres below the surface and more than 300 kilometres from Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan in Jurm, Feyzabad. The most dangerous fault lines in Pakistan existed in Himalayan ranges. However Himalayan seismic zone is not very active.
Hindu Kush mountainous ranges lying at Pak-Afghan and Afghan-Tajik border has been the epicentre of majority of earthquakes in this region.
Since the major incident and aftershocks on the same day, frequency of earthquakes has increased considerably, causing panic among public at large. Sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves to travel that make the ground shake. The experts, however, are not worried at all until the intensity of ruptures is not that high.
“Release of energy through low intensity earthquakes is a good omen. Inactivity on active seismic zone can cause accumulation of energy that can lead to major incident like the one on October 26. Earthquakes will decrease after the settlement of plates,” Dr Sajid Rasheed said.
Besides hundreds of earthquakes of mild intensities, more than one dozen of moderate to high intensities ruptures have hit the country since October 26. Prior to that, the frequency of earthquakes was not that high.
Earthquake of 6.2 magnitude hit the country on November 22 and four ruptures of 7.0, 5.9, 5.9 and 5.8 on December 07, 20015. Quake of 5.7 magnitude shook the country on January 02, 5.8 on January 08 and rupture of 5.7 magnitude on January 12 this year.
Prior to October 26, only 11 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more had hit the country in the entire year with only one incident of magnitude 6 earthquake on August 10, 2015.
“We can’t stop natural activity. It will continue till settlement of plates. We can only prepare ourselves to minimise the loss. Building code should be implemented at the government and individual levels to minimise the loss in natural calamities like earthquakes. Quakes are a routine in Japan with minimum losses at the present stage. Buildings in Japan can bear jolts of 8.5 magnitude,” Dr Sajid Rasheed said.