• Epicentre located in Sonmiani, 87km from Karachi: NSMC.
• Tremors also felt in Balochistan’s Hub, Vinder, Gadani.
• 3.2-magnitude quake rattles Sibi city earlier today.
  

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.2 struck parts of Karachi and Balochistan late on Monday night, causing panic among citizens.

The National Seismic Monitoring Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the earthquake’s epicentre was in Balochistan’s Sonmiani, with a depth of 12 kilometres and was centred about 87 kilometres from Karachi.

Sonmiani is a coastal village in southeastern Balochistan.

In Balochistan, the tremors were felt in Hub, Vinder, and Gadani.

Earlier today, a 3.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Balochistan’s Sibi city and surrounding areas, with its epicentre 53 kilometres away from the city, with no reports of any casualties or damage.

On December 3, mild tremors shook its Khuzdar and Sibi districts.

Khuzdar experienced a 3.3-magnitude earthquake at a depth of 15km, with its epicentre 80km southwest of the city, while Sibi felt tremors of magnitude 4.0 at a depth of 10km, centred about 50km southwest of Sibi.

The November 26 Sibi quake had a magnitude of 3.1, while its depth was recorded at around ten kilometres. The NSMC reported that the epicentre was located roughly 60 kilometres north-east of Sibi.

The tremors did not last long and caused no damage.

Parts of the province faced minor tremors earlier in November, also.

On November 8, the PMD’s seismic centre reported that tremors shook Ziarat and surrounding areas, registering a magnitude of 5.0.

The quake’s epicentre was pinpointed 67 kilometres northeast of Quetta.

The last major earthquake to hit Ziarat struck in 2008, claiming more than 200 lives and leaving around 500 injured.

Entire villages were flattened, and hundreds of homes and government buildings were reduced to rubble, forcing over 15,000 people from their homes.

The worst-hit areas were the small settlements of Ziarat, where roughly 170 people died, most of them women and children.

While other districts, including Pishin, Bolan, Chaman, and Quetta, also reported casualties and damage, according to reports.

The country has long been vulnerable to natural disasters, from the 2005 northern quake that killed 73,000 to the devastating 1935 earthquake in Quetta, which claimed around 30,000 lives.

Balochistan province largely sits along a seismic hotspot, where the Indian plate pushes against the Eurasian plate.

Balochistan, the country’s largest province, remains sparsely populated, making rescue and relief operations especially difficult.

The California-based couple, Harry and Meghan, have not celebrated Chrismas in the UK since 2018, embracing a new chapter.

Since 2018, the Sussexes have forged their own path, prioritising their own festive traditions and creating unforgettable memories with their family of five. They have left behind the traditional British royal Christmas celebrations.

Their Christmas cards depict a major shift in their strategy.

The couple’s 2025 holiday card, set to drop this week, will also unveil a new chapter in their journey, filled with hope, love, and the joy of new beginnings.

The Sussexes’ past cards have been a window into their evolving journey.  Each release hints at their plans and values, leaving fans eager for what’s next.

The change in their life is clear in the carefully curated cards as the Sussexes have forged their own path out of the royal traditions and restrictions.

The couple’s 2018 card hinted at their futre together as they two chose an image taken on their wedding day. The picture shows the newly married pair arm-in-arm while gazing at the fireworks, filling the sky above them.

The photo seemingly highlighted their vision and th futre they palnned to explore togethe by keeping their heads up. 

Their 2019 card features a seven-month-old Archie take centre stage. The couple tried to reveal what’s more important in their life amid speculations and rumours: The card shows them cherishing family time away from the spotlight, in Canada.

The Sussexes’ 2020 photo also shows how growing Archie begins to adopt American life. In 2021, the card highlights Lilibet’s public debut, a small but telling shift that reflected their new identity.

The couple’s other cards explain their new life in America with their kids along with the couple’s accolades and charitable work.

In the same way, the last year’s greeting captured humanitarian visits to Nigeria and Colombia, showing Archie and Lili racing to greet their parents with hugs.

It explained the couple’s strrategy to balance public impact with private joy.