Balochistan's seismic activity continues with fresh Khuzdar, Sibi tremors

• Khuzdar experiences 3.3-magnitude earthquake at a depth of 15 km.
• Sibi quake measured 4 at depth of 10km, epicentre 50km southwest.
• Earlier in November, Ziarat district was jolted by 5-magnitude quake.

QUETTA: Balochistan’s quake zone continues to remain active as mild tremors shook its Khuzdar and Sibi districts early Wednesday, the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) reported.

Khuzdar experienced a 3.3-magnitude earthquake at a depth of 15km, with its epicentre 80km southwest of the city, while Sibi felt tremors of magnitude 4.0 at a depth of 10km, centred about 50km southwest of Sibi.

There were no reports of injuries or damage, and authorities said they were monitoring the situation.

The November 26 Sibi quake had a magnitude of 3.1, while its depth was recorded at around ten kilometres. The NSMC reported that the epicentre was located roughly 60 kilometres north-east of Sibi.

Parts of the province faced minor tremors earlier in November, also.

On November 8, the NSMC of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that quake tremors shook Ziarat and surrounding areas, registering a magnitude of 5.0.

The quake’s epicentre was pinpointed 67 kilometres northeast of Quetta. However, no reports of damage or casualties emerged.

The last major earthquake to hit Ziarat struck in 2008, claiming more than 200 lives and leaving around 500 injured.

Entire villages were flattened, and hundreds of homes and government buildings were reduced to rubble, forcing over 15,000 people from their homes.

The worst-hit areas were the small settlements of Ziarat, where roughly 170 people died, most of them women and children.

While other districts, including Pishin, Bolan, Chaman, and Quetta, also reported casualties and damage, according to reports.

The country has long been vulnerable to natural disasters, from the 2005 northern quake that killed 73,000 to the devastating 1935 earthquake in Quetta, which claimed around 30,000 lives.

Balochistan province is largely situated along a seismic hotspot, where the Indian plate collides with the Eurasian plate.

Balochistan, the country’s largest province, remains sparsely populated, making rescue and relief operations especially difficult.