On 29/8/2024 Morning, the inhabitants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Islamabad, and neighboring escapes of Pakistan felt the earthquake and the vibrations that followed waking them up with a start. It must be noted that these tremors occurred due to an earthquake magnitude 5.4 of and these claimed to have affected cities such as Peshawar, Swat, and Rawalpindi with reports of a strong vibration reported in the capital city of Islamabad.
Where Did the Earthquake Occur and How Big Was It?
In its analysis the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) observed that the epicenter of the earthquake was in the Hindu Kush Mountain ranges it warned that the area was especially prone to separate tectonic effects in the Eurasian and Indian plates. The shocks originating from the quake were measured at kilometers, which makes it obvious how far the quake’s effects were felt.
While the intensity of the ‘quake was not great enough to deal the death blow to numerous towns and villages, the shake did prove to be perceptible to millions of people and resulted in a mass panic in the urban and rural sectors of the country.
Public Reaction and Panic
Most residents ran to social media to report as the quakes ensued. Due to this fear, people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi left their homes and offices running towards the open places in case there were still other earthquakes. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also the scenario was the same, the majority of people came out of their homes for several hours after the shock.
“The earthquake happened at night and I was sleeping when the bed started to shake,” a resident of Peshawar said adding, “We all got up and ran out of the house. It was horrible.”
A Reminder of Seismic Risks in Pakistan
Pakistan is located in a seismic zone because it is located in the transverse tectonic zone where the Indian plate is sliding under the Eurasia plate. Such positioning suggests that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with other northern regions of the country, is highly sensitive to seismic events. The Hindu Kush region is very active with deep-focus earthquakes and therefore there is a constant threat of earthquakes in the Northern zones of Pakistan.
This recent event brings a flashback to the year 2005 Earthquake which triggered the down of many buildings and killed tens of thousands of people in Azad Kashmir and northern Pakistan. Although this earthquake was not as severe as the one that struck the same region in the earlier part of the year or the one that struck India mourns were stirred up by this small earthquake.
Importance of Preparedness
As a result of these quakes, as they are called, specialists stress the necessity of earthquake preparedness. They encourage people to prepare for such calamity, so they know where to go if a big quake occurs. This has to do with finding spaces that are safe from tornadoes in homes and offices, moving or anchoring large furniture and equipment that might be injured by the tornado, and having survival kits.
Government Response
Local governments and groups that are in charge of emergency and disaster preparedness have been placed on standby to observe and deal with any incidents. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial governments, they are working to ensure that if there is any need for relief they must be in place.
Moreover, the PMD has noted that more quakes may continue to occur a day after the initial shocks and has encouraged people to listen to the news and announcements from authorized information sources.
At the End
Although the tremors that were experienced in K-P, Islamabad, and the neighborhoods were not very severe such occurrences should be a wakeup call that the region is prone to earthquake activities. The general populace should be informed and ready for future occurrences of earthquakes for safety measures to prevail. People are advised to remain calm while at the same time, there is caution to look out for any other possible smaller earthquakes.
