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Environmental expert
fears Tsunami may hit Karachi in future |
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KARACHI: Active mud volcanoes in Arabian sea,
rising sea level and deforestation of mangroves may cause
tsunami-like situation hitting directly Pakistani coastline,
particularly Karachi and Gwadar, Director Coastal Ecosystem
Unit of IUCN, Tahir Qureshi said.
Talking to PPI on Wednesday, he said, “Active volcanoes
in Arabian sea, rising seal level due to glacier- melting
of North and South poles, global warming and removing of mangroves,
a biological wall against high sea waves, may produce tsunami,
hurricane or cyclone in Arabian sea as it had happened in
past.” Referring to history, he said in 1819, a super
earthquake resulting in cyclone smashed Ketti Bandar and Shah
Bandar ports of Sindh.
In 1945, Tsunami smashed Pasni and Oarmara towns, killing
total population, he added. “Pakistani coastal areas
including Karachi are situated at seismic and tectonic line
which produces tsunami, hurricane or cyclone caused by earthquake,”
Queshi said adding when volcanoes burst in sea, a force produces
20ft to 50ft high waves which move to coastal line with speed
of 600 miles to 750 miles per hour. According to scientific
research, Karachi coastline is more vulnerable for tsunami-like
situation as rising population pressure, industrialization
near sea and deforestation of natural physical barrier- mangroves
could become cause of high waves smashing the city, the scientist
feared. “Only staggered lines (7 or above lines) plantation
of mangroves on Pakistani coastline could save Thatta, Karachi,
Gawadar and other cities from tsunami-like natural disaster,
as country could not afford trillions of rupees expenditure
to build mud wall before the sea from Thatta to Gawadar,”
Qureshi stated. He said recently Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia
have carried out 7-line plantation of mangroves to save them
from tsunami. Safety from tsunami by stagger-line mangroves’
plantation is cheaper than building mud-wall, he added.—Agencies |
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