BARKHAN, Pakistan, June 26 — A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 52 kilometres north-northeast of Barkhan, Pakistan on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake hit at 11:48 UTC at a depth of 10 kilometres. The USGS, which detected the event through its real-time global seismic monitoring network, classifies this as a shallow earthquake.
Seismologists note that shallow events — those less than 70 kilometres deep — typically produce stronger shaking at the surface than deeper ones of the same magnitude. No tsunami warning was issued.
For all the noise, the salient point for those near the epicentre is that earthquakes in the magnitude 5 range are considered moderate. They can cause minor to moderate damage near the epicentre, but are not generally catastrophic. The depth of 10 kilometres, however, means the energy released would have reached the surface with relatively little attenuation.
The area is notably seismically active. The USGS records show that at least 33 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater have occurred within roughly 300 kilometres of this location over the past two decades.
The strongest among them was a magnitude 6.4 event in 2008. Aftershocks are common following an earthquake of this size, seismologists advise, and may continue for days or even weeks. People in the affected area are generally advised to be prepared for further shaking.
The precise location, 52 kilometres from Barkhan, places the epicentre in a region that has experienced periodic seismic stress over the years. The 2008 magnitude 6.4 quake would have been considerably more powerful, but the shallow depth of today’s event means the comparison is not straightforward: shallower quakes of lower magnitude can sometimes produce more intense local shaking than deeper, larger ones. The USGS continues to monitor the region.
Residents in the vicinity of the epicentre should expect the possibility of aftershocks in the coming days and weeks, and are advised to take standard precautions — securing heavy objects, knowing safe spots in their homes, and staying informed through official channels.
