Thfire.com Everyday news that matters In southwestern Pakistan, a very shallow earthquake has hit the Baluchistan province. The Pakistan earthquake 2011 was reported as magnitude 7.4 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Several provinces in and around the earthquake felt the rumble, including border regions of Iran and Afghanistan.
7.4 magnitude Pakistan earthquake 2011
Map indicating the Earthquake in Pakistan
At 1:23 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit 34 miles west of Dalbandin, Pakistan. This region is on the border of Pakistan, next to Iran and Afghanistan. The earthquake epicenter itself is in the desert and was measured as only 6.3 miles deep — very shallow for a major earthquake. The Pacific Tsunami Center did register the earthquake but did not indicate that a tsunami had been started by the quake.
Major damage possible from Pakistan earthquake
Initial reports of damage and injuries from the Pakistan earthquake have not yet been received. On Oct. 8, 2005, a 7.6 earthquake in northwestern Pakistan left 3 million without homes. Also, 80,000 people were killed by that 2005 Pakistan earthquake. However, the border region of Pakistan hit by today’s 7.4 earthquake is very lightly populated and very seismically active. The Baluchistan province of Pakistan is considered a “conflict zone,” as the border it shares with Afghanistan is not very well-secured and is in a very difficult-to-survive area of the desert.
A difficult time for Pakistan
The Pakistan earthquake comes at a very difficult time for the country. Currently, Pakistan is dealing with the aftermath of the 2010 monsoon season, which put one-fifth of the country under water. The Pakistani military also spends a significant amount of time in the region hit by the Pakistan earthquake, trying to control the conflict and border troubles with militants from Iran and Afghanistan. The damage from the 7.4 earthquake this morning is likely to be severe, and the country has incredibly limited resources for handling the aftermath of the Pakistan earthquake.
