People panic as Pakistan quake cause tremors in UAE

Major earthquake measuring 7.4-magnitude hits southwest Pakistan

Al Ain, Jan 19,2011 (Gulf News): Strong tremors were felt in most parts of the UAE at around 12:27am on Wednesday, sending waves of panic among people who rushed out of their homes.

Major earthquakes in 2010

The tremors were caused by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale that struck in southwestern Pakistan, some 566km in the northwest of Karachi, said the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology.

The NCMS confirmed that the tremors were felt deep inside the UAE. In a report issued at 2:10am, the centre said it has caused no harm in the UAE.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was more than 84km underground, close to the town of Dalbandin in Baluchistan province, near the Afghan and Iranian frontiers.

The tremors were felt by people living even in Al Ain. Police and Civil Defence department has not reported any material damage or causalities.

The quake, however, sent a wave of panic among residents in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai, Al Ain, and parts of Abu Dhabi. Many of them rushed out into the open.

Doneet Lobo, an Indian resident in Al Ain, said he was reading a book at his bed when the tremors were felt. He immediately realised that it's an earthquake and got out of the room. "The things around me rattled for a few seconds and I was horrified," said Lobo. He said he immediately contacted his friends in the city and they also felt the same.

Earthquake hits Pakistan

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook southwestern Pakistan early on Wednesday, jolting residents of cities as far apart as Delhi and Dubai, but the epicentre was far from major population centres.

Poor communications ensured there were no immediate reports from the vicinity of the quake, but despite the major strength of the shock, the great depth may have limited damage. The USGS had first said that the earthquake was very much shallower.

In the major Pakistani port of Karachi, 400km away, people woke and rushed out of their homes after the tremors hit at 1:23am (2023 GMT on Tuesday). The authorities there had no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

In an ominous indication of problems for the small towns and villages of Baluchistan, however, people in India's border province of Rajasthan said cracks appeared in the walls of rural dwellings. The simple structures common in the area closest to the quake may fare badly under the strains of major tremors.

The USGS said the epicentre was 55km west of Dalbandin, a town of about 15,000 people, and at a depth of 83km.

The Pacific Tsunami Center said the onshore quake had not triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

A major quake of this magnitude, if at a shallow depth and close to population centres, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. Pakistan is still reeling from devastating floods last year that left more than 10 million people homeless.

In 2005, a 7.6 magnitude quake 95km northeast of the Pakistani capital Islamabad killed over 70,000 people.

With inputs from Reuters