The coast of Karachi and Makran may be subject to earthquake and tsunami

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Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department Muhammad Riaz warned that an earthquake could strike the Makran coastal belt at any time. Although he can’t predict the exact time, Riad says there is enough energy accumulated in the Eurasian subduction zone that it could cause an earthquake that could trigger a tsunami.

The subduction zone of the Makran coastal belts can be subjected to an earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher. This will also affect the coastal belts of Karachi and the rest of Balochistan.

More than 4,000 people were killed when an earthquake followed by a tsunami hit the coastal belt in 1944. Now, this fault line has completed its normal time period and the subduction zone is once again very active and gaining momentum with each passing day.

Speaking to SAMAA Digital, Riad said that this danger already exists in the Makran coast which could become active at any time and result in destruction.

The region is already experiencing hurricanes and other calamities. The coastal areas of Gwadar and Makran have recently witnessed heavy rains.

The Director-General said we should focus on how to save ourselves from these natural disasters.

He said people should be made aware of the role they had to play. While building houses, people should keep in mind that the area may be subject to a very strong earthquake.

Instead of waiting for an earthquake to strike and eventually moving to a safer place, people should build earthquake-resistant structures to stay safe.

DG PMD said an earthquake of magnitude 8 or more could trigger waves as high as 10 to 15 feet.

Riad said the Maller Fault will continue to receive small and medium-range earthquakes, and regulations should be implemented during construction.

He appreciated the government’s efforts to clear Gujjar and other rainwater drainage, saying that this would ensure quick drainage of rainwater and help avoid the dangers of urban floods.

Riad said planting mangroves along the shoreline is important because it helps mitigate cyclone risks in the pre- and post-monsoon season. It also reduces the risk of a tsunami.

Director General of Sindh Disaster Management Authority Salman Shah said the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates converge 40 nautical miles south of Gwadar. He said that this point is called the subduction zone.

Shah said that as tectonic plates move in the subduction zone, they cause earthquakes. He explained that when this earthquake comes under the sea, it causes a tsunami.

Karachi has a history of earthquakes. Shah said the 1944 earthquake was caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake in the Makran subduction zone and caused waves 10 to 12 feet high.

More than 4,000 casualties were recorded in the coastal regions of Sindh and Balochistan.

Shah said that at that time, the population of Karachi was only a few hundred thousand, and their number had grown to tens of millions. He said that in the event of any such accident today, the losses would be double and we should all be prepared for that.

Earthquake disaster does not give any warning.

You have some time in the event of a tsunami, Shah said, depending on how long they occur.

The DG PMDA said building codes must be strictly enforced and buildings must be as earthquake-resistant as those in Japan. He added that you cannot tell which building in Karachi can withstand the earthquake.

Salman Shah said that according to the building code, the structure must be able to withstand a 7.5-magnitude earthquake.

Shah said that PDMA in collaboration with Suparco has completed a survey of all 30 districts of Sindh to assess the level of devastation that a particular disaster can cause in each of these districts. The survey also looks at measures that can be taken to reduce potential harm.

The Director General said the initial report was ready but they were waiting for the final report. Various areas of Karachi were also included in the survey.

He revealed that the pilot project started from Thatta district and 14 more districts were added. Later, 15 more districts of the county were included. Currently, the authorities are compiling the data and it will take about three months to complete the report.

Shah said no one can predict how high the tsunami will be. The 2011 Japan tsunami saw waves of 30 to 35 feet high.

DG PDMA revealed that PDMA is currently working on two projects. One of the projects in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program in Kamari and Ibrahim Heidari. This is not only for evaluation but would also install a warning system. Sirens are used to warn local residents in the event of a tsunami.

Shah explained that these are densely populated areas and will be severely affected in the event of a tsunami, which is why we have given them priority. “We are also training local people on what to do in the event of a tsunami and how to get to safe sites.”

Besides these, the Sindh government is also operating with the help of the NDRF in four other districts including Malir, Thatta, Badin and Sajawal.

On the coast of Sindh, 17 stations will be installed, the United Nations Development Program will construct three and PDMA will install the rest.

What do you do when an earthquake comes

At the time of the earthquake, if you are in a building, get out of it.

Use the stairs to go down, and never go to the elevator.

If you can’t, take cover under a hard surface to keep from falling concrete and stones.

Sit on your knees, wrap your hands around your neck, and stick your head between your knees.

PDMA has completed a community training program in six counties and is running programs in the remaining counties.

They also run a building code awareness program for private builders, builders and government that work closely with the construction sector including the Works and Services Department and the Irrigation Department.

Shah also revealed that the PDMA has a disaster management plan that includes information about hospitals in the area, their capacity, the routes to these hospitals as well as the number of ambulances there are in each.

Shah acknowledged that the Karachi Fire Department has improved a lot compared to the past but it is still far from adequate.

He said the fire department now has new snorkels and machines but it is still not enough for a huge city like Karachi.

PDMA search and rescue centers

PDMA Sindh DG said they are setting up search and rescue centers in all department headquarters including Karachi.

Ads have been posted and recruitment is underway. He revealed that we have signed an agreement with Punjab’s Rescue 1122 to train our staff. Our teams will receive training at the Thokar Niaz Baig Center in Lahore.

In the second phase, they will train people from 14 other districts and in this way they will have 17 to 18 rescue teams in the district.

There are already Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) search and rescue teams, which the NDMA helped set up in 2008.

Besides KMC, Pakistan Army and Capital Development Authority have two other search and rescue teams in the country. These teams are dispatched in emergency situations.

Dr. Simin Jamali, former CEO of JPMC told SAMAA Digital that Karachi has only tertiary care units capable of handling patients in the event of a natural disaster.

The Morey disaster has shown us that no one can control climate change and we are certainly not ready for it.

Dr. Jamali believes that Karachi hospitals are not ready to face any major disaster in the near future. We have dealt with hundreds of patients in the event of an explosion or any other small scale tragedy, she said, adding that hospitals would not be able to function in the event of a major natural disaster.

The former director of JPMC said that we are not at all prepared for a major natural disaster as we were not prepared for the 2005 earthquake. The majority of buildings in Karachi are old and not earthquake resistant. If the city is hit by an earthquake and tsunami, we are not at all prepared for any such situation. She added that it was time to start training the workforce and invest in hospitals that can handle such cases.

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