Balochistan-quake: Two more islands pop up off Pasni coast

  • September 26, 2013, 7:41 pm
  • National News
  • 413 Views

Gwadar, September 26 (Online): The powerful earthquake which struck Balochistan province Tuesday, killing over 300 people, triggered the formation of two more islands off the coast of Gwadar, attracting global curiosity, media reported on Thursday.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake has displaced thousands of people. Media reported that the tremor created a new island, a big pile of mud, near Gwadar which scientists say would soon disappear.

The island is about 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 meters) high, up to 300 feet (91 meters) wide, and up to 120 feet (37 meters) long.

However, on Thursday, local people told local media that two more islands, smaller than the previous one, have surfaced off the coasts of Mara and Pasni areas near Badok and Bul villages.

Locals said that World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and National Institute of Oceanography teams have been informed about the newly formed islands which appear to be made out of mud from the seafloor.

A similar mud island appeared off Pakistan after a 2011 earthquake there. It lasted a month or two and then washed away.