Shallow 4.7-magnitude quake in Pakistan: High risk as seismic activity spikes

Islamabad: A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Pakistan on Monday at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremor occurred at 11:12 am IST near coordinates latitude 30.51 N and longitude 70.41 E, impacting the region around Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab province. Shallow quakes like this are potentially more destructive as seismic waves reach the surface quickly, causing stronger shaking and raising the risk of structural damage and casualties.

This earthquake follows moderate tremors over the previous weekend, marking a period of heightened seismic activity in Pakistan. The country lies in a tectonically active collision zone between the Eurasian and Indian plates, making provinces such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Sindh, and Punjab prone to frequent earthquakes. Balochistan, near the boundary of the Arabian and Eurasian plates, experienced a devastating 8.1-magnitude quake in 1945.

Authorities have urged residents to stay alert for possible aftershocks and to take necessary safety measures as seismologists continue monitoring the region.

With inputs from ANI