A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck Swat and its adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area in Pakistan on Monday. This region is mentionable acquainted with such seismic occurrences as it is near the Hindu Kush Mountain range. This article covers the most recent earthquake in the Swat region, the causes of this phenomenon relating to geology, and the general earthquakes in Pakistan.
Recent Earthquake in Swat
At around 1:20 p.m. Pakistan time, on Monday, tremors of a 4.5-magnitude earthquake were felt in Swat nearly at the same time. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also noted that the center of the earthquake was in the Himalayan region at a height of 151 kilometers deep. The residents experienced mild panic as tremors were felt around Swat but none could report any major destruction or loss of lives.
This was not a random occurrence. In the case of Pakistan, particularly in the northern regions, this is commonplace as the area lies close to tectonic plate boundaries. Only about 3 weeks ago on August 29th, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck various places in KP such as Mardan, Malakand, Hangu, Buner, Shangla, and Dir. Tremors were even felt in major cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and even large parts of Punjab. Fortunately, there were reports of fatalities during these events, but rather they remind us of the region’s earthquake risk.
Why do Earthquakes Affect Pakistan Geographically?
Pakistan is positioned along climaxes of the Indian and Eurasian plates, making it very prone to earthquakes. The northern regions seem to suffer more, especially the areas around the Hindu Kush. This mountain range which extends in the southern part of Afghanistan and northern Pakistan is the potential for seismic activity. As the Indian plate rides towards the north and overlaps the Eurasian plate, tons of stress builds up. Periodically, this stress is discharged in the form of earthquakes.
The Role of the Hindu Kush
The earthquake was concerning as the epicenter was located at a seismically active Hindu Kush mountain range. The region is very tectonically active, and as a result, it is prone to tremors, some of which are high magnitudes. Earthquakes in this region are usually deep-seated like that of Swat where the epicenter was 151 Kilometers deep. It is evident that buildings will not be as damaged in cases of deep earthquakes like this one as in cases of shallow earthquakes like this one, however, it is observed that similar shocks can cause a general panic across the population
Earthquake Preparedness in Pakistan
Some of the earthquakes in Pakistan occur and not much devastation is witnessed but the risk of large destruction is still there, remains. Past events such as the earth-shaking one in Kashmir in 2005 depict a need for preparedness and the ability to withstand catastrophic infrastructure failure.
Here are some measures that can be taken to minimize the risks when an earthquake happens.
Public Awareness: It is very important to understand that the public in a country where earthquakes are prone needs to be informed on what to do to prevent injuries in case of any such phenomena. This also involves teaching people techniques on how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On unless active response is needed to avoid cuts and bruises from falling objects in the case of a tremor.
Building Codes: Implementing comprehensive, within-building codes, controls, and regulations in construction workers mainly focusing on earthquake risks in building sites would mitigate further impacts on literature features during such tremors.
Early Warning Systems: Investments in the development and maintenance of seismic monitoring systems. These are very beneficial as they assist in disseminating warnings so that threatening areas can be evacuated.
Emergency Response Plans: Because of the hazards posed by natural calamities, emergency response plans. Which include a medical response, evacuation plans, and search and rescue operations have to be spelled out clearly.
Historical Earthquakes in Pakistan
Pakistan has had its share of earthquakes with some being fatal and destructive. One of the most general examples is the 2005 earthquake which occurred in northern Pakistan in the region of Kashmir. This Earthquake of 7.6 magnitude was the cause of over 80000 deaths and left many people dislodged.
Other notable earthquakes in Pakistan consist of:
2013 Awaran Earthquake: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Balochistan, with over 800 lives lost and large-scale devastation following.
2019 Mirpur Earthquake: A lesser 5.6-magnitude earthquake which resulted in 40 deaths and destruction of infrastructure in Mirpur Azad Kashmir.
These events call for improving the present earthquake preparedness and preparedness mechanisms in the entire country.
The Value of Continuing Evaluation and Study
The PMD and other agencies monitoring seismic activity in Pakistan are also important in monitoring and studying earthquakes. Understanding the behavior and causation of seismic action may assist in formulating such policies for future mitigation. Nonetheless, predicting future earthquakes continues to be one of the most elusive tasks. As they say, being prepared is the best defense in case of natural calamities.
