Pakistan has been hit by a powerful earthquake where at least 250 people have been killed. The earthquake struck in the Balochistan province on Tuesday at a depth of 20km at magnitude of 7.7. It has been reported that entire villages are said to have been flattened with thousands spending the night in the open. The area is prone to earthquakes but has little in the way of mitigation methods with many of the buildings made out of poor materials which cannot withstand the earthquakes. The emergency services are struggling to cope with all injuries with the military responding also to the crisis.
After the quake a small island has been reported to have appeared off the coast near Gwadar with people rushing to the beach to see it.
During an earthquake there is sometimes deformation of the crust, which may cause an uprising of land. This 600m long, 100m and 20m high island has believed to have formed from a "mud volcano." Richard Luckett a seismologist from BGS has stated that is unusual but not uncommon. He added that there are numerous "mud volcanoes" along this coast with a similar island seen form after a previous earthquake. He believes they form when softer, muddier rock underlays solid rock and when stresses are released through an earthquake, the cap is released and the softer rock rises upwards. He stated that the previous island seen was washed away by the rain and ocean after about a month or two.
BBC
In October 2005 some 73,000 people were killed in 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake in Northern Pakistan.
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