Pakistan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major faults. As a result, earthquakes in Pakistan occur often and are destructive.
Geology
Pakistan geologically overlaps both the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. Balochistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North-West Frontier Province) and Gilgit-Baltistan provinces lie on the southern edge of the Eurasian plate on the Iranian Plateau. Sindh, Punjab and Azad Jammu & Kashmir provinces lie on the north-western edge of the Indian plate in South Asia. Hence this region is prone to violent earthquakes, as the two tectonic plates collide.
Earthquakes
DateLocality, district, or provinceMMIDeathsInjuriesNotes2023-03-21Badakhshan, Afghanistan6.5 V20302Severe damage, ten killed in Afghanistan. Damage to buildings also in India and Tajikistan 2022-06-24Khyber Pakhtunkhwa4.2 VIIFive killed in Afghanistan2022-06-21Khost Province, Afghanistan6.0 VIII1327Heavy damage. Over 1,100 killed in Afghanistan.2022-05-06Khuzdar, Balochistan5.2 VI1Moderate damage2022-03-16Gilgit-Baltistan5.1 VII19Minor damage2021-12-27Gilgit-Baltistan5.2 V9Severe damage2021-10-07Harnai, Balochistan5.9 VII42300Severe damage2019-10-06New Mirpur, Azad Kashmir 3.6 IV110Casualties due to a house collapse2019-09-24New Mirpur, Azad Kashmir 5.6 VII40852Severe 2018-01-31Lasbela, Balochistan 4.7 V19 2018-01-30Badakhshan 6.1 19–112015-12-25Gilgit-BaltistanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa6.3 V41002015-10-26Badakhshan7.5 VII3992,5362015-07-24Islamabad 5.1 V32014-05-08 Sindh4.5 250 2013-09-28Awaran District, Balochistan6.8 VII22Aftershock. 2013-09-24Awaran District, Balochistan7.7 825700 2013-04-16Balochistan 7.7 VIII341052011-01-18Dalbandin, Balochistan7.2 VII3some2010-10-10Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa5.2 V115Moderate damage2008-10-29Ziarat District, Balochistan6.4 2152002005-10-08Azad Kashmir, Balakot7.6 XI86,000–87,351 69,000–75,266Extreme damage in Azad Kashmir, Balakot town almost completely destroyed and Muzaffarabad suffering heaviest number of casualties. Deadliest earthquake in South Asia, epicentre centred on the Jhelum Fault Zone.2004-02-14Battagram,North-West Frontier Province5.5 VIII24632002-11-02Battagram,North-West Frontier Province5.4 6.3 VIII41168Doublet1997-02-27Balochistan 7.0 VIII57 1992-05-20Kohat Division, 6.0 VII36100Moderate1983-12-31Gilgit-Baltistan7.2 VII12–2660–483Severe 1981-12-09Gilgit-Baltistan 5.9 220 1974-12-28North-West Frontier Province6.2 5,30017,0001972-09-03Peshawar,North-West Frontier Province6.2 VIII100 1945-11-28Makran Coast,British Baluchistan8.1 X4000Tsunami1935-05-31Ali Jaan, Balochistan7.7 X30,000–60,0001931-08-27 Mach, Balochistan7.4 1931-08-24 Sharigh Valley, Balochistan7 1909-10-21 Sibi, Balochistan7 100 1892-12-20 Qilla Abdullah, Balochistan6.8 Chaman Fault 1885-05-30Srinagar, Kashmir6.3–6.8 VIII3,0001865-01-22 Peshawar,North-West Frontier Province6 1852-01-24 Kahan, Balochistan 8 1827-09-24 Lahore, Punjab7.8 1,000 1819-06-16 Allahbund, Sindh7.7–8.2 XI>1,543Tsunami 1668-05-02 Shahbandar, Sindh7.6 50,000 1555-09-?? Kashmir600–60,000 The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described are also applicable to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.
See also List of faults in Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority
References
Sources
Further reading
External links Northern Pakistan 1974 December 28 12:11:43 UTC Magnitude 6.2 USGS accessed Jan 2009