Karachi, a city more known for its heatwaves and traffic jams than earthquakes, has been rattled once again — four times, in fact, just this Sunday. Two of the tremors hit barely four minutes apart, pushing the number of quakes recorded since June 1 to a worrying 55.
Most of these tremors have been mild — low on the Richter scale — but they’ve been frequent enough to leave people uneasy, especially in neighborhoods like Malir, DHA City, and Gadap, which seem to be at the center of this unsettling activity.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the first tremor on Sunday struck at 4:42am with a magnitude of 2.5. Its epicenter was located 16 kilometers east of Malir at a depth of 10km. The next two — measuring 3.8 and 2.2 — hit at 1:30pm and 1:34pm, just north of Malir. A final jolt of 3.3 was felt at 3:14pm, this time with the epicenter near DHA City.
While these tremors haven’t caused major damage so far, they’ve certainly shaken public confidence. People are worried — and with good reason. It’s not normal for Karachi to experience this kind of repeated seismic activity.
But experts are urging calm — and preparedness.
Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder tried to offer some perspective. “Yes, it’s unusual. Yes, it’s alarming. But low-intensity quakes like these are often a good sign — they release built-up pressure beneath the earth’s surface and can actually prevent a more powerful quake from striking.”
He added that seismic monitoring in this region is still relatively new. “We’ve only been tracking these movements digitally for about 16 years,” he noted, “so we’re still learning about the patterns.”
Still, he didn’t downplay the need for action. “We can’t stop earthquakes. But we can prepare. We must think seriously about the kind of buildings we live in. Strengthening our infrastructure isn’t just an option — it’s a necessity.”
Most of the recent tremors have been centered around Malir, but areas like Quaidabad, DHA, Korangi, and Gadap are also being affected. Experts believe this activity is linked to fault lines beneath Landhi, Quaidabad, and Malir, which had remained dormant for decades — until now.
“These areas are now releasing the energy they’ve held for years,” said one geologist. “It’s nature doing its job. But we have to do ours too — by preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.”
For residents, it’s not about reading seismology reports. It’s about the small things — waking up to the sudden jolt of a tremor, worrying about cracks in walls, or checking in on family when the ground feels unsteady.
“Every time I feel the floor move, I hold my breath,” said Sara, a school teacher in Malir. “Even if it’s for a few seconds. Because this isn’t something we’re used to. It’s scary — because you just don’t know if the next one will be bigger.”
As Karachi keeps trembling — quietly but consistently — one thing is becoming clear: we may not be able to predict earthquakes, but we can no longer ignore them.
