Mild-to-low intensity earthquake shocks were felt across the country on Saturday morning. No loss of life or property was reported from any place. Karachi Met office Director Abdul Hameed told Business Recorder that the seismological laboratory of the Met office, located off the Karachi University, recorded first low intensity earthquake at 4:48 am, 1.6 on the Richter scale, and the second shock at 6:08 am, 3.5 on the Richter scale.
The third shock was observed in the coastal belt of Karachi at 10:44 am 3.5 on the Richter scale. However, moderate shocks were recorded in Quetta and Peshawar at 7:17 am and 7:18 am both shocks 5.5 at the Richter scale.
The epicentre of these shocks was 700 kilometers south-west of Peshawar or 30 degree North - 69.47 degree east, somewhere between Kohlo and Loralie in the hilly terrain of Balochistan.
Hameed said that in Karachi coastal area was affected by the shocks but passed off unnoticed by many people. "If this phenomenon happens in the sea and even recorded 6 at the Richter scale, damage does no take place."
The coastal area and hilly terrain are always in the faulty zone and people living in these areas generally feel mild to low intensity shocks. Some pass off unnoticed and some with a little bit of anxiety.
Hameed said that after the recent tsunami incident the government has approved a chain of observatories to be set up in the coastal areas. These will be equipped with modern equipment to record incidents that may cause heavy damage to life and property.