Karachi: on top of EarthQuake Fault Lines
“While Karachi lies close to a major fault line, it is situated on or close to four minor faults. The first is called the Allah Bund fault and it passes through the coastal town of Shah Bundar, the area around Pakistan Steel Mills and runs through eastern parts of the city ending near Cape Monz. Another fault lies in the Rann of Kutch near Sindh’s southeastern border with India. The third is called the Pubb fault which lies near the Mekran coast west of the city while a fourth is located in Dadu district on the northern boundary of Karachi.”
In his recent article in the DAWN , Omar Quraishi has mentioned the history of earthquakes in this region and raised some questions for the government:
(1) Does the Oct. 8 earthquake in any way affect the tectonic plate movement for the rest of the country, especially Karachi, since it lies close to a faultline?
(2) Does the more recent seismic activity in the southern and coastal areas of Sindh mean that tectonic activity is increasing and, if so, should not this be a valid cause of concern given the way thousands of high-rise buildings are constructed in Karachi, often without any regard for construction rules?
(3) If the national seismic hazard map needs to be updated, will Karachi be moved from its present category of “noticeable seismic danger” to that of “significant seismic danger”?
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Comments
To prevent human loss from earthquake in karachi the following priventions must be taken in futre
1.The construction of multy story bludings be stoped.
2.The present milty story buldings be replaced.
hi,i m the student of Geology,University of Karachi.i hv to mention you all tht there will no earthquake in karachi to almost 30 to 40 yrs.there is no major fault zone lies underneath Karachi.the shaking in the coastal areas is due to the Soaking of soil,which is due,bcoz the creek area or phase 7 or phase 8 areas,are builted by regreting the sea water manually or its man powered.so when the left behind Soil which is a softer one becomes hard n compacted & load coming on it,then it descends into the Bed rock.when it does tht thing it will produce these shocks or tremors.
But there are some other reasons……i m woking on it.if i got concluded,i will surely inform u guys.contact me on my Email:sharry_786@hotmail.com,for any query about the recent Earthquake.
Hi im 13 years old and i have a project on the pakistanian earthquake it is a major help and i have no flipping clue what caused the earthquake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ha funny story cause PLEASE HELP WHAT CAUSED THE PAKISTANI EARTHQUAKE UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I HATE GEOGRAPHY you have been a major help but please dont let earthquakes happen so i do not have to do projects on them
No,the 8th october kashmir quake has nothing to do with the tectonic movement of karachi and sindh,
although four faults are passing by karachi, but are currently inactive.the jolts felt by the residents of DHA and clifton karachi were due to the compaction of soil ,phenomenon known as consolidation.
The problem is that we have a building code but is not followed,laws for the implementation should be brought into considration..
@mir contact:amirmahmud@gmail.com
Department of Geology
university of karachi
Please donate for earth quake victims and pray for well being of those areas not affected especially karachi.
Naeem Tyab
i need help on the distances and area’s the earthquake area of where it destroyed and effected the land
hmmmmm making a report on 8 october,2005 crisis my field work n wana know more about its tectonic background
there should be more information about the geography of balakot and the tectonic movements at this area.
umm..i have a stupid project on the earthquake that recently hit pakistann and i neeed to know that wat caused the earthquakee??..i need help!
salam
I want to know about the finel seismic report on azad kashmir . Is this zoon is also in danger?
wt are the causes of the earthquake!! i need too nowwwwwwww!! or you sure it wuz not plate tectonics!???
HELP MEEEEEEE!!! wt caused it !!! xx
salamz,
i m student of Federal Urdu University and i have to make an assignment on Geology of karachi.if any body there can help me so plz i will b very thankfull 2 u.apple_4u_2@hotmail.com is my id nd 03002616163 is my contact.
salam!iam student of civil engineerng and resident of muzaffarabad ak.by the rafrence of this web site i wana ask a question?
why was seismic report so delayed and how much is it reliable?
it is a golden chance for pakistan government te construct the effected the areas precisly and to promote tourism as these are world beautiful place but till yet nothing major even practical or theoratical work is seen ! why?
today in korangi and landhi areas of karachi earth quake shocks were felted and people came out of their homes,according to met office the intensity of the shocks were 1.8 and 2.8 on rector scale. things hung on walls fell down and pans of homes broke with 2nd shock according to residents.
this should a wake up call for goverment to practically do some thing in order to avoid heavy losses that may happen in any power earthquake shock
dear sir, i m sindhi living in hyderabad & fan of our nazim karachi,sir this is the first time history of sindh mr.nazim karachi take some serious action & take initative efforts of earth quake.
i m very greatfull to u to someone have warried about sindh.so sir best of luck….
shaikh kamran sindhi,proud to be pakistani……
GSP has published seismotectonic maps of earthquake prone districts including Karachi, Islamabad and Hattian Bala Muzaffarabad. These maps and Report on 29th Oct 2008 Balochistan Erathquake are available from Director Publication, GSP Quetta. Ph 081-9211041
I am not fully aware of where karachi is placed in seismic zones according to Geological Survey of Pakistan rating. However, as my previous experience karachi is placed in zone 3 according to GSP whereas the UBC (Uni Building Code of USA) places karachi in zone 4 (high seismic prone area). The question of updation of karachi seismic zone from zone 3 to zone 4 will be partially important in the context of increased building construction cost but it will be more important when we consider the retrofitting of existing building in order to make them capable of withstanding the earthquake. who will bell the cat ???
regards
ahsan
some one ask to send me the link of plates where
they are meeting the plates here is the link where techtonic plates are meeting….
Whatever the nature of earthquake, it should be considered that first step is preparatory (before earthquake and the second is management (after earthquake). In the preparatory phase, we should be able to build earthquake resistant buildings, which cost more therefore being ingored due to high cost and low budget. Earthquake never kills, but the collapsing structures and falling objects like rocks and lose soil during shocks. May be some people die due to fear of shocks.In the preparatory stages, we must educate people on the earthquake and what we should do when there is EQ.
So fare we have Fire Fighters, but no Disater Management Units, which can come in action when there is any sort of disaster. Whenever there is a disaster we only blame Govt. but we forget our own responsibility. How much we spend on our safety and security?? we use poor electric appliances and building material to kill ourself and our children..?? I give this example to make it a point that apart from state the individuals must also contribute in cash and kind to manage nation wide disasters. Pakistan is not a rich country that it can afford to pay subsidy on each and everything and provide free education for dozen children of each family,,,, we produce much and leave it on the country to provide education and then Jobs,otherwise they will join Madarsas.
Sorry i am missing the point here that apart from State level arrangements, it is mandatory that individuals understand their role and responsibilities while building houses and plazas. Have we ever seen fire escape stairs in any huge building in Karachi….??? No, why,??? are we fire proof or we don’t want to protect ourself.??? simple it needs additional cost.
Lets come to Managment of the disasters,,,, for that huge machinary and experts will be required to deal with any sort of disaster,, as we have very poor infrastructure,,, drills, cutters,,cranes,,sensitive heat detectors and trained dogs,,,what not,, it is not easy,, but we can arrange the basic,,,,,
We talk just to get knoweldge and after getting knowledge we just become the scholars and impress others only through the knowledge we got….. For God Sake Wake Up Pakistanies,,, and be workers for Pakistan,,, we have enough scholars and politicians,,, we can export them to earn foreign exchange,, but we are in need to import workers,,,,,,,,
Start Cleaning streets,, not just your houses,,,,, we are living in and arround garbage and sewage,,,,,,, we throw everything on road and think that we did good,,, have we ever picked a bottle from road,,,,,,,??? No,,, we ourself are asking for disasters,, we are used to disasters,, we are producing bombers and bombs,,,,, so why should we care about the natural disasters,, as mooot to haq hy,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Have we got trainning at home or at school to perform social responsibilities,,,, no……
WAKE UP<<<<<<<<<< or give dam to everthing not just to your responsibilities,,,,
Dear sir,
i have been researcinh on the Faultlines of Pakistan and the World Wide Plate tectonic movement,
i jus wanna know about the fault line that lies under the Karachi, and its structure. information in Detail.
As of writing this, again a shockwave of around 1.1 was felt in korangi karachi. This is felt constantly since last two weeks.I think there is a need to create awareness in public about earthquake and govt should take measures to handle any situation.
I leave in Landhi Karachi from last 2 week we are facing earthquake shocks consecutively everyday and twice and trice in a day night. Every time people feel the panic here.
Builder Mafia is ruling Karachi, they have nothing to do with reinforcement. They give billions of bribe to every one from Civic agencies to Courts clerk. They have an art to save even genuine fees. They are looting public wealth and never meet their promises.
1. Educate people about earthquake
2. Educate people about tsunami
3. Keep prefabricated residential units accessable
4. Educate people about causes and effect resulting in natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, inflation, unrest, insecurities
5. Allah is saying something to you in His Book – listen
6. Sins invite Curse – man is no match against nature – control behavior of masse
7. Keep insurance/ reinsurance ready calamities not aid