Amid the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, rumors are spreading on social media that the South Asian region including Pakistan, India and other countries may also be hit by a seismic event.
This has caused widespread panic among the public. However, the director of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has dismissed these predictions as baseless.
The PMD official stated that there is no scientific evidence to support earthquake predictions, and that Pakistan has its own state-of-the-art monitoring system in place.
The official also emphasized that Pakistan is situated on a fault line, and that the country has already suffered significant loss of life due to earthquakes in 2005 and 2013.
Despite these reassurances, the death toll in Turkey and Syria continues to rise, with reports of casualties increasing by the hour.
In response, the Pakistan Army has sent two contingents – an Urban Search and Rescue Team – to assist with relief efforts in Turkey, following orders from the Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir.
The teams consist of rescue specialists, sniffer dogs, a medical team, army doctors, nursing staff, technicians, and a 30-bed mobile hospital.