News Desk: Pakistan has experienced its ninth earthquake this May, triggering widespread concern among experts and the public alike. The country’s growing seismic activity, coinciding with rising Indo-Pak tensions, is drawing scrutiny from both geologists and strategic analysts.
The latest earthquake, a magnitude 4.2 tremor, struck on May 30 at 1:37 PM IST. According to India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS), the quake originated 180 kilometers beneath the surface at coordinates 32.57°N and 69.82°E. The NCS shared the update via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, noting the continued geological unrest in the region.
Just a day earlier, a slightly stronger 4.4-magnitude quake was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometers, increasing the risk of aftershocks. These back-to-back tremors cap a month marked by unusual seismic frequency.
Timeline of May Quakes in Pakistan:
May 30 – 4.2 magnitude
May 29 – 4.4 magnitude
May 27 – 4.2 magnitude (Faisalabad division)
May 24 – 4.1 magnitude near Pakistan
May 16 – 4.7 magnitude north-northwest of Peshawar
May 10 – Twin tremors (5.7 and 4.0 magnitude) in the Hindu Kush
May 9 – 4.0 magnitude near Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
May 5 – 4.2 magnitude affecting both Pakistan and Afghanistan
The seismic uptick comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. While no direct link has been officially established, the timing has fueled speculation on social media and in regional strategic circles.
Some unverified reports suggest the possibility of clandestine underground nuclear tests by Pakistan, echoing similar suspicions raised when Iran experienced a spate of low-intensity quakes during heightened tensions with Israel. However, seismologists caution against jumping to conclusions without conclusive geological evidence.
Experts attribute the frequent tremors to Pakistan’s vulnerable position along the tectonic boundary between the Indian and Eurasian Plates—one of the most active fault zones globally. Provinces such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan lie directly atop this seismic zone, with Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir also highly susceptible.
“The region is riddled with major fault lines acting like pressure valves,” said a senior geologist. “When tectonic stress exceeds the threshold, these faults slip, triggering earthquakes.”
Authorities are now calling for enhanced earthquake preparedness, improved monitoring infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns to mitigate future risks.
As seismic pressures continue to build, May 2025 has become a stark reminder of Pakistan’s geological volatility—and the urgent need for vigilance in both natural and strategic domains.
Nice reporting