Third earthquake in two days jolts Balochistan’s Kohlu

QUETTA – A 4.3-magnitude earthquake struck Kohlu district of Balochistan on Saturday, marking the third tremor to hit the region within the past two days, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC). The latest earthquake had its epicentre about 40 kilometres north of Kohlu at a depth of 15 kilometres. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property. The fresh tremor follows a series of earthquakes that have unsettled residents across Kohlu and nearby districts. On Friday, the strongest quake measured 5.1 on the Richter scale and caused injuries and property damage in parts of Balochistan. According to local authorities, at least three people, including a child, were injured when walls of houses collapsed in Kingri area of Musa Khel district. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials also reported that nearly 70 houses sustained partial damage due to the earthquake. The 5.1-magnitude tremor originated about 60 kilometres northeast of Kohlu at a depth of 17 kilometres, with shocks felt in Zhob, Barkhan, Rakhni and surrounding areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said three separate earthquakes were recorded in the region on Friday. The first occurred at 10:25am, followed by another at 10:58am, while the third tremor was recorded at 4:49pm. Pakistan frequently experiences earthquakes because it lies along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making several parts of the country highly vulnerable to seismic activity. In recent years, the country has witnessed a number of damaging earthquakes, including the devastating 2005 earthquake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the 2021 Harnai earthquake in Balochistan, both of which caused significant loss of life and widespread destruction. The local authorities have advised residents in the affected areas to remain alert for possible aftershocks while disaster management teams continue to monitor the situation.