Tremors felt in Zhob and Chaman, with epicenter northeast of Zhob
QUETTA: A 4.8-magnitude earthquake rattled parts of Balochistan on Wednesday, with tremors felt in Zhob and Chaman, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC).
The quake struck at a depth of 15 kilometers, the NSMC, which operates under the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said. Its epicenter was located 122 kilometers northeast of Zhob, according to the seismological center.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Balochistan, a sprawling province in southwestern Pakistan, lies in a seismically active zone and has experienced several significant earthquakes in recent years.
On Oct. 7, 2021, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter near Harnai at a depth of 15 kilometers struck at about 3:20 a.m., killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 300 while residents slept. Most casualties occurred in Harnai, where several buildings collapsed and more than 70 homes were reported damaged. Aftershocks continued in the days that followed, and rescue teams and military personnel were deployed to the affected areas.
In March 2024, Chaman was again jolted by a 5.4-magnitude quake that struck at around 5:35 a.m., with its epicenter about 150 kilometers southwest of Quetta at a depth of 35 kilometers. Tremors were also felt in Qila Abdullah, Noshki, Pishin, Dalbandin, Chagai and Quetta.
According to Earthquakelist.org, 2,399 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 or above have struck within 300 kilometers of Pakistan over the past decade, averaging 239 per year, or about 19 per month. The highest annual total occurred in 2020, with 287 such quakes, the strongest measuring 5.6 magnitude. No earthquake of magnitude 7 or above has been recorded near Pakistan during that period.
