Living with earthquakes in north Pakistan
Ishtiaq A. K. Jadoon*1, Mirza S. Baig 2, Wolfgang Frisch 3, Mona Lisa 4
1Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan
2Institute of Geology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad
3Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, D-72076 Tübingen
4Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
* Email: jadooniak@yahoo.com
The recent, October 08, 2005 earthquake of magnitude 7.6 on the Richter scale in north Pakistan has caused widespread destruction with loss of live and property. For the first time, residents of north Pakistan have found themselves helpless against the uncertainties posed by the earthquakes. To some estimates, over 80,000 casualties have occurred alone. Although, the people and the Government of Pakistan, along with global partners are going through a major process of rebuilding homes and civic structures; this is time to probe about the earthquakes.
Earthquakes in north Pakistan occur due to the collision of Indian and Eurasian plates and, as a result, with the active development of the Himalayan mountain system. In this setting > 100 peaks above 7,000 m are located in north Pakistan. The area exhibits high relief with active seismicity. Earthquakes of magnitude 5 and higher are common as compared to the earthquakes of magnitude above 8 that occur in relatively wide-spacing in time. They will continue to occur systematically to cause havoc by ground shaking, rupture, building collapse, and landslides, similar to as seen by the recent destructive earthquake, unless we are prepared to live with the earthquakes.
The damage caused by the October 08, 2005 earthquake is mostly associated with ground shaking, rupture, building collapse, and landslides. This is time that geoscientists, engineers, and administrators work together for ways forwards to minimize the damage caused by the future earthquakes by mapping active faults and possible landslides, with a concern about infrastructure and town planning with appropriate building material and architectural styles. Extensive forestation is required to restrict slope failures and for the availability of affordable wood for the construction of flexible and safer structures. Through this paper, we intend to raise problems related to neotectonics, geomorphology, engineering geology, and civil engineering for awareness about the earthquakes for environmentally sustainable living with earthquakes in north Pakistan.
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