Karachi may experience severe earthquake this week: ENRC

The Earthquake News and Research Centre (ENRC) has expressed concern over the possibility of a severe earthquake in Karachi, predicting a potential seismic event between Thursday night and Saturday night this week. 

The warning was issued by the Centre’s CEO, Muhammad Shahbaz Laghari, during a press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad.

Laghari cautioned that recent tremors felt in Karachi should not be ignored, as they may be precursors to a more powerful earthquake.

“There is a risk of a high-intensity earthquake, however, minor tremors can also reduce the possibility of a major event,” he stated.

Karachi earthquake tremors linked to Landhi Fault Line activity: Chief Meteorologist

Defending his organisation's advance warnings, Laghari said, “We are often accused of spreading fear and panic, but we aim to encourage the government and the public to adopt safety measures through timely information.”

He lamented that despite working for the public good, the Centre faces discouragement within Pakistan, even as it was receiving offers of cooperation from foreign countries.

He added that the Earthquake News and Research Centre was the first of its kind in the world to provide advanced information on earthquakes, with documented forecasts available on its YouTube channel, EQQN.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with a private channel, Chief Meteorologist Amir Haider provided a more cautious view. 

Read: Why earthquake tremors hit Karachi six times in 24 hours

He stated that recent tremors in Karachi originated from the Landhi fault region and have so far been of minor intensity. “No major earthquake activity has been recorded on this fault line to date,” he said.

Haider added that Karachi lies near two active fault lines, one in the Landhi area and the other near Bola Khan Police Station. 

He noted the presence of a main boundary fault line near the Kirthar range, which has also experienced moderate tremors. It may take a few days for seismic activity to return to normal, and light tremors may continue during this period, he explained.

The public was advised to remain calm but stay alert and take appropriate safety precautions in the coming days as monitoring continues.