View source for 2019 Kashmir earthquake

{{Short description|Earthquake in Kashmir}}
{{Infobox earthquake
| name = 2019 Kashmir earthquake
| timestamp = 2019-09-24 11:01:55
| anss-url = us60005mqp
| isc-event = 616494857
| image = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| map = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = 
| map2 = {{Location map+ | Pakistan
| places =
{{Location map~|Pakistan|lat=34.53|long=69.1|label_size=100|label=Kabul|position=left|mark=Green pog.svg}}
{{Location map~|Pakistan|lat=33.74|long=73.07|label_size=100|label=Islamabad|position=top|mark=Green pog.svg}}
{{Location map~|Pakistan|lat=31.55|long=74.34|label_size=100|label=Lahore|mark=Green pog.svg}}
{{Location map~|Pakistan|lat=33.106|long=73.766|mark=Bullseye1.png|marksize=40}}
 | width = 250
 | float = center
 | caption =
 | relief = yes }}
| local-date = {{Date|2019-09-24|dmy}}
| local-time = 16:02 [[Pakistan Standard Time]]
| duration = 
| magnitude = 5.6 {{M|w|link=y}}<ref name=ANSS>{{Cite anss|Pakistan|2019|us60005mqp|M 5.6 – 3km S of New Mirpur, Pakistan|access-date=24 September 2019|mode=cs1}}</ref>
| depth = {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}}
| location = {{Coord|33.106|73.766|type:event_region:PK|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Thrust fault|Thrust]]
| affected = Kashmir
| damages = 
| intensity = {{MMI|VII}}
| pga = <!-- NN''[[Peak ground acceleration|g]]'' -->
| tsunami = 
| landslide = 
| foreshocks = 
| aftershocks = 
| casualties = 40 dead, 850 injured
}}
The '''2019 Kashmir earthquake''' struck regions of [[Pakistan]] with an [[epicentre]] in [[Azad Kashmir]]<ref name="Reuters" /> on 24 September at 16:02 [[Time in Pakistan|local time]] (11:02 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]). It had a magnitude of 5.6 {{M|w|link=yes}} and a maximum felt intensity of VII (''very strong'') on the [[Modified Mercalli intensity scale|Modified Mercalli scale]].<ref name=ANSS/> There was severe damage in [[Mirpur District]], causing the deaths of 40 people and injuring a further 850.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/kashmir/ajk-government-declares-earthquake-hit-mirpur-723502.html|title=AJK Government Declares Earthquake-hit Mirpur The Calamity-hit Area|website=UrduPoint|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928214855/https://www.urdupoint.com/en/kashmir/ajk-government-declares-earthquake-hit-mirpur-723502.html|archive-date=2019-09-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> The epicentre of the shallow quake was near the city of [[Mirpur, Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=23 dead, more than 300 injured as 5.6-magnitude quake rocks northern Pakistan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1507105/ |work=Dawn |date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> The tremors were felt in the Kashmir region, [[Punjab (Pakistan)]], [[Punjab (India)]], [[Uttarakhand]] and northern parts of India including [[New Delhi]].<ref name="ndtv">{{cite news |title=Tremors In Delhi, Parts Of North India After 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake In Pakistan |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/earthquake-today-tremors-in-parts-of-delhi-and-its-neighbouring-areas-2106394 |accessdate=26 September 2019 |work=NDTV.com}}</ref>

==Tectonic setting==
Kashmir lies at the southern margin of the broad zone of [[continental collision]] between the [[Eurasian Plate|Eurasian]] and [[Indian Plate]]s. The rate of [[Continental collision|convergence]] between these plates near this location is 38&nbsp;mm per year.<ref name="USGS_map">{{Cite web |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/tectonic/images/himalaya_tsum.pdf |title=Himalaya tectonic summary map |last=USGS |access-date=27 September 2019}}</ref> The main structures involved in accommodating this convergence are large [[thrust fault]]s, such as the [[Main Central Thrust]] and the [[Main Frontal Thrust]]. Within the frontal thrust zone, there are many individual thrust faults. Many damaging earthquakes have resulted from movement on such thrust faults, such as the [[2005 Kashmir earthquake]] which caused the deaths of around 87,000 people.<ref name=ANSS/>

==Damage==
The earthquake caused severe damage to 135 houses in Mirpur District, with a further 319 being partially damaged, most in Mirpur and just four in [[Bhimber District]]. Two bridges were reported damaged and parts of several roads were affected, particularly 14&nbsp;km of the Main Jatlan Road.<ref name="NDMA_SITREP_04">{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/NDMA%20Mirpur%20Earthquake%202019%20SITREP%20No.%2004.pdf|title=NDMA Situation Report No. 04 - Mirpur Earthquake 2019 (Dated - 26 September 2019 @ 1530 hours)|last=National Disaster Management Authority|date=26 September 2019|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="dawntoll">{{cite news |last1=Chaudhry, Fahad |first1=Tariq Naqash |title=Death toll from quake climbs to 38 as relief operations continue |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1507280/death-toll-from-quake-climbs-to-38-as-relief-operations-continue |accessdate=26 September 2019 |work=DAWN.COM |date=25 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

According to the chairman of Pakistan's [[National Disaster Management Authority (Pakistan)|National Disaster Management Authority]] (NDMA), "In Mirpur, besides the city, a small town [[Jatlan]], and two small villages Manda and Afzalpur" were among the worst-hit areas. According to him, the main road which runs alongside a river from Mangla to Jatla suffered major damage.<ref name="NDMA">{{cite news |title=NDMA chairman briefs media about earthquake damage, rescue efforts |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1507109 |work=Dawn |date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> According to the officials, the [[Mangla Dam]], Pakistan's major water reservoir, was spared. However, the dam's power house was closed, which resulted in a loss of 900 [[megawatts]] to Pakistan's national power grid. At 7:20 pm, power generation at Mangla was resumed, restoring 700 MW to the national grid.<ref name="Mangla"/>

According to a media report, cracks and fissures had appeared in the [[Upper Jhelum canal]]. Flood water had managed to enter the Chak Nigah village in Jatlan town.<ref name="900 MW">{{cite news |title=Mangla Dam safe after earthquake but 900MW reportedly lost |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/248668-mangla-dam-safe-after-earthquake-but-900mw-reportedly-lost |work=Geo News |date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> The canal was subsequently shut as a precautionary measure.<ref name="Mangla">{{cite news |title=Mangla power generation resumes after being affected |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1507217 |work=Dawn |date=September 25, 2019}}</ref>

==Casualties==
Forty people have died and more than 850 injured as per the reports published on 26 September. Of those who died, thirty-three were in Mirpur District, four in Bhimber District, and one more in Jhelum District.<ref name="NDMA_SITREP_04"/> ''Reuters'' reported, citing architects, that the large number of casualties were due to shoddy building construction methods and weak construction standards in Pakistan.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |title=Shoddy homes worsen Pakistan earthquake damage |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-quake-pakistan/death-toll-mounts-in-pakistan-earthquake-but-panic-subsides-idUSKBN1WA0BZ |accessdate=26 September 2019 |work=Reuters |date=26 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Sardar Gulfaraz Khan, the [[deputy inspector general of police]] for [[Mirpur district]], stated that a large number of deaths were caused due to the collapse of old houses in the villages.<ref name="Reuters" />

==Response==
The [[Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir|Prime Minister]] of [[Azad Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Farooq Haider Khan]], cut short a visit to [[Lahore]] and went back to his native region immediately after the reports of the damage emerged.<ref>{{cite news |title=Earthquake Strikes Pakistan, Killing at Least 22 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/world/asia/pakistan-earthquake.html |work=The New York Times |date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> NDMA vehicles laden with 200 tents, 800 blankets, 200 kitchen sets and 100 medical kits were dispatched to affected areas.<ref name="NDMA"/>

==Aftershocks==
On 26 September at 12:30, two days after the major earthquake, another earthquake struck Mirpur, which led to a further 67 people being injured and one death reported.<ref name="DawnTremor">{{cite news |last1=AFP, Naqash |first1=Tariq  |title=67 injured as shallow tremor rocks Mirpur, Jhelum and adjoining areas |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1507474/67-injured-as-shallow-tremor-rocks-mirpur-jhelum-and-adjoining-areas |accessdate=26 September 2019 |work=DAWN.COM |date=26 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> It was of magnitude 4.7 and centered at [[Thothal Mirpur]] at the depth of {{convert|10|km}}.<ref name="Koshy">{{cite news |last1=Koshy |first1=Jacob |title=Fresh quake near India-Pakistan border |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fresh-quake-near-india-pakistan-border/article29518188.ece |accessdate=26 September 2019 |work=The Hindu |date=26 September 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ReliefWeb-link|eq-2019-000117-pak}}
* {{EQ-isc-link|616494857}}

{{Earthquakes in 2019}}
{{Earthquakes in Pakistan}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=2019 earthquakes, 21st century in Azad Kashmir, Earthquakes in Pakistan, September 2019 events in Pakistan
|description=
}}

[[Category:2019 earthquakes]]
[[Category:21st century in Azad Kashmir]]
[[Category:Earthquakes in Pakistan]]
[[Category:September 2019 events in Pakistan]]