Tag: earthquake

  • CDA directs evacuation of Islamabad high-rise buildings affected by earthquake

    CDA directs evacuation of Islamabad high-rise buildings affected by earthquake

    The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has instructed the owners of high-rise buildings affected by a recent earthquake to evacuate their buildings until they receive a fitness certificate from certified firms.

    The Building Control Agency of the CDA has identified minor cracks in 10 high-rise buildings in Islamabad due to the recent earthquake of high intensity. Following the directives of the CDA Chairman, the Building Control Agency conducted a survey of 90 high-rise buildings and found that the structure of 80 buildings was safe, while minor cracks were found in 10 buildings.

    The owners of the affected buildings have been directed to repair their buildings or obtain a fitness certificate from a firm certified by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) regarding the strength of their structure and submit it to the CDA. In addition, a third-party attestation will also be required.

    Meanwhile, the CDA Chairman has directed the management of private housing societies to conduct a survey of buildings on their premises and submit a report to the CDA’s Building Control Agency within three days.

    The residents of the apartments in the affected buildings have also requested alternate accommodation during the period of repair. They have stated that during the month of Ramadan, it would be difficult for them to move along with furniture.

  • ‘Check on your loved ones’: Celebrities are praying for followers after magnitude 6.5 earthquake jolts Pakistan

    ‘Check on your loved ones’: Celebrities are praying for followers after magnitude 6.5 earthquake jolts Pakistan

    On Tuesday night, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake jolted Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

    The powerful jolts killed nine while 44 were injured, according to Al-Jazeera.

    Celebrities across Pakistan urged their followers to take necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

    During an earthquake, please remember to wear proper shoes and exit your home to prevent any injuries from the jolts, and stay on open ground until the situation is safe.

    Actor Saba Qamar sent her prayers and wished for everyone to stay safe:

    Cricket captain Babar Azam urged his followers to take care of their loved ones

    Pakistan cricket player Shaheen Afridi prayed that everyone remained safe during the earthquake

    Actor Mahira Khan wrote on her Instagram stories that she was praying for everyone’s safety.

  • What was happening when the earthquake came in Pakistan?

    What was happening when the earthquake came in Pakistan?

    A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Pakistan on Tuesday night.

    The epicentre of the earthquake was Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, while its depth was 180 kilometres, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

    According to reports, tremors were felt in Islamabad, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, DI Khan, Swabi, Bahawalpur, Quetta, Parachinar, Skardu and other cities of the country. 

    The tremors continued for 30 seconds, and people came out of their homes in panic.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif ordered the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other institutions to be ready to deal with any emergency.

    Below are scenes as to what was happening in different parts of the country when the earthquake came in Pakistan.

  • No, Pakistan did not cheat Turkey in the name of relief material?

    No, Pakistan did not cheat Turkey in the name of relief material?

    Senior journalist Shahid Masood has apologised for the disinformation that he passed on his show.

    The anchor had claimed on the aid sent by Pakistan to his show, ‘Live with Dr.Shahid Masood’ on GNN that the aid Islamabad had sent to Ankara after this month’s devastating earthquake, had infact been sent by Turkey when floods hit Pakistan in 2022.

    Soon after, the story went viral on social media, eventually landing on Indian news channels and websites, running propaganda against Pakistan.

    Masood has now tendered an apology for stating incorrect facts on his show.

    Masood said that as his show is live, he received a text from a Turkish number and said the words on-air. However, he apologised for the incorrect news he said on-air.

  • Turkish chef Salt Bae announces he will feed 5,000 people every day with new mobile restaurant

    Turkish celebrity chef Salt Bae took to social media on Monday to announce a new business venture: a mobile restaurant which will provide free food to the millions of people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey.
    He shared a video clip of the mobile van, which features a kitchen to serve food. In the caption, the chef had written:

    “It will be the most important and meaningful service in the world for us.”

    Another video showed food being prepared in bulk by the chefs in the mobile kitchen, and in the caption the chef promised that they would feed at least 5000 people every day.

    “We started serving hot food to more people, targeting 5000 people every day.”

    The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey has reached 40,000 now, according to Al-Jazeera. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference yesterday, where he cited this as the deadliest disaster in Turkey’s modern history.

  • PM Shehbaz says Pakistan will never leave Turkey, Syria alone in these circumstances

    PM Shehbaz says Pakistan will never leave Turkey, Syria alone in these circumstances

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced that the federal government has allocated Rs10 billion to help Turkey’s earthquake relief efforts.

    The premier said that Pakistan will never leave alone Turkey in these circumstances, urging the nation to pray for the victims of the earthquake in Friday prayers today.

    “I believe that the people of Turkey and Syria will come out of this difficulty,” he said, adding that Pakistan assured Turkey of assistance on the very day the tragedy took place.

    “A committee has been formed to send funds to Turkey. 1,486 tonnes of relief goods are being sent to Turkey and Syria,” he added.

    The premier said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will purchase relief items — such as tents, clothes, blankets and dry food — from the fund and dispatch them to Turkiye.

    “Destruction of such magnitude is seldom seen, where parents have lost their children and infants have become orphans […] there are dreadful visuals everywhere,” he noted.

    However, the prime minister asserted that under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the people of Turkiye would emerge out of the crisis. “And so will our brothers in Syria,” he said.

    More than 21,000 people have died in Turkiye after an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck the region in the early hours of Monday morning. The hope of pulling out survivors from underneath the rubble diminishes as the days pass and freezing temperatures continue unabated.

  • Pakistan sends aid to Turkey to help in Earthquake relief operations

    Pakistan sends aid to Turkey to help in Earthquake relief operations

    Pakistan has send aid along with rescue and relief teams to it’s close ally Turkey after powerful earthquakes devastated the southern region of the country early on Monday morning.

    “On the instructions of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan Army has dispatched two contingents; Urban Search and Rescue Team comprising rescue experts, sniffer dogs, search equipment and a Medical team comprising Army doctors, nursing staff and technicians along with 30 bedded mobile hospital, tentage, blankets and other relief items,” Radio Pakistan has reported.

    The aid contingents have been flown to Adana, Turkiye via special PAF aircraft, to undertake relief efforts for Turkish people while working in close coordination with the Turkish Government, AFs and their Embassy in Islamabad.

    “The contingents will stay there till the completion of relief and rescue operations.”
    The National Disaster Management Authority in a tweet wrote, “NDMA dispatched humanitarian assistance to the earthquake hit Turkiye through PAF C-130 aircraft from Nur Khan Air Base.”

    Pakistan on Monday said it will send two C-130 planes carrying relief and 36 search and rescue personnel.

    Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said early on Monday that 45 countries had offered help with search and rescue efforts.

    The confirmed death toll in Turkey and Syria has soared above 4,300.

  • 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Turkey kills at least 76 people

    7.4 magnitude earthquake in Turkey kills at least 76 people

    At least 76 people have been killed and 440 injured after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey’s southern provinces early on Monday morning with the tremors felt as far as away as Syria and Lebanon. An additional 440 people have been injured with numbers expected to rise.

    The strongest of the numerous strong aftershocks, measuring 6.7 magnitude, was felt throughout the region.

    Syria has reported 42 deaths so far as rescue operations continue after day break.

    Social media has been flooded with numerous videos of the earthquake and it’s aftermath. In one video, an apartment complex collapses, raising billows of dust visible even in the dark. Others show people stuck under rubble while survivors move to help them.

    Turkey’s disaster agency has appealed for help from the international community as it conducts search and rescue operations.

  • Earthquake of magnitude 6.0 strikes Indonesia’s Sumatra

    Earthquake of magnitude 6.0 strikes Indonesia’s Sumatra

    A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island early Monday, the US Geological Survey has reported.

    The seismic activity occurred around 6:30 am local time (2330 GMT). There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. In addition, no tsunami alert was issued.

    “The earthquake caused people to panic. It was felt between 3-10 seconds in four districts in Aceh and North Sumatra province,” Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the BNPB disaster mitigation agency, said in a statement.

    Earlier on 10 January, a powerful deep-sea earthquake of 7.6 magnitude had damaged village buildings in a lightly populated island chain in eastern Indonesia and was widely felt in northern Australia.

  • Google to launch its Android Earthquake Alerts System in Pakistan

    Google to launch its Android Earthquake Alerts System in Pakistan

    Google has announced the launch of its “Android Earthquake Alerts System” in Pakistan, which will send automatic early warning alerts that help people be prepared for an emergency.

    “Android Earthquake Alerts System is a no-cost, helpful android feature that detects earthquakes around the world and alerts people. It uses sensors in Android smartphones,” said Google in a statement.

    “When people look up ‘earthquake’ or ‘earthquake near me’, they will find relevant results, along with helpful resources on what to do after an earthquake,” the statement further added.

    “Pakistan has experienced several earthquakes in the past, especially in the northern and western parts of the country. With the expansion of this earthquake alerts system, android users in Pakistan may receive automatic early warning alerts that help them be prepared for an emergency.”

    “One feature titled ‘Be Aware’ alerts people when earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 occur, or an intensity level of 3 or 4 on the MMI scale. The notification is sent along with the distance of the earthquake’s epicentre. The alert uses the phone’s current volume, vibration, and Do Not Disturb settings.”

    The Android Earthquake Alerts System was initially launched in New Zealand and Greece.