The “Quake island” that came into existence off Gwadar after the quake that shook Balochistan. — AFP
Islamabad: Methane gas is emanating from a small island created in the Arabian Sea by the deadly earthquake that hit southwest Pakistan and claimed more than 350 lives, prompting experts to warn people not to go near it. However, the site has fascinated local residents, who have thronged the coastline in Balochistan province to get a glimpse of the new piece of land that emerged from the sea.
Analysts also said that the island may not last long.
Mohammad Danish, a marine biologist from Pakistan’s National Institute of Oceanography, said a team of experts had visited the island and found methane gas rising. “Our team found bubbles rising from the surface of the island which caught fire when a match was lit and we forbade our team to start any flame. It is methane gas,” he said.
A similar event happened in the same area in 1945 when an 8.1-magnitude earthquake at Makran triggered the formation of mud volcanoes off Gwadar.
The 7.7-magnitude quake that struck Balochistan’s remote Awaran district has killed more than 350 people and affected some 3,00,000.
“The death toll is now 350. There are still so many people missing and some critically injured,” said a National Disaster Mana-gement Authority official.
He said that despite difficult terrain, rescue efforts are underway in the tremor hit area. “Medical teams are working in the area,” he added.
Pakistan army and the paramilitary Frontier Cor-ps personnel are also helping in relief efforts with around 1,000 already mo-ved.Read more: https://bit.ly/16s2vlg
