Residents of Pakistan felt the ground tremble on Saturday as a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck the nation. The earthquake occurred at a notably shallow depth of 10 kilometers, a characteristic that often results in more pronounced surface shaking and an increased likelihood of aftershocks. The proximity of the earthquake’s origin to the surface means seismic energy is less dispersed before reaching the ground.
Pakistan’s geographical location places it within one of the world’s most seismically active regions. The country lies at the confluence of several major tectonic plates, specifically the Arabian and Eurasian plates, and the Indian plate. This geological configuration makes areas like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan highly susceptible to seismic forces. Even provinces like Punjab and Sindh, situated on the Indian plate, face seismic risks. The country continues to experience tremors, including a 4.6 magnitude earthquake earlier this month, a reminder of its persistent earthquake vulnerability.