KARACHI: People in different parts of Karachi said they felt the ground shake just after midnight, with Landhi and Korangi among the areas where the tremors were strongest.
The Meteorological Department confirmed it was a 4.0 magnitude quake, recorded at 1:27 am. It struck 10 kilometres deep, with its epicentre in the sea about 100 kilometres south of the city.
Tremors were reported in Landhi No. 2 and No. 4, as well as around Babar Market. Residents in Korangi No. 6 also said they felt the ground shake.
This latest tremor comes after months of unusual seismic activity in Karachi.
Between June and October 2025, the city experienced what experts described as a “seismic swarm,” with dozens of small quakes rattling neighbourhoods. In June alone, more than 57 low-intensity tremors were recorded, many of them shallow “micro-earthquakes” that were still felt by residents. The PMD linked the activity to the reactivation of the Landhi-Korangi Fault Line, which had been quiet for decades.
On October 2, 2025, a 3.2 magnitude quake struck near Malir, adding to public anxiety. Later, on December 15, a stronger 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook Karachi, with its epicentre in Sonmiani, Balochistan.
Geologists say the frequent small quakes may actually help release pressure along fault lines in manageable bursts, reducing the risk of a major rupture. However, some researchers warn that urban factors such as heavy groundwater extraction and land subsidence could be making Karachi more sensitive to seismic shifts.
With today’s 4.0 magnitude tremor, experts believe the city’s fault lines are still in a “normalization phase,” keeping residents on edge about what might come next.
