Over 150 aftershocks recorded

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s seismic and weather experts have recorded over 140 aftershocks, with 21 over 5 magnitude on the Richter scale, since Saturday morning’s massive one which has killed over 18,000 people and injured around 42,000. “The first 48 hours after are the most critical, but there frequency continues to decline gradually,” Chief Meteorologist Anjum Bari Farooqi told reporters. He said damaged structures in around 30 kms from the epicenter, particularly in Mansehra, Balakot and Muzaffarabad and ajoining areas may collapse if there are aftershocks of over 5 magnitude. Bari said the aftershocks may continue for some time after the initial quake till the seismic activity subsids completely. He said it was however very rare to have a major quake after the initial one. He said the pattern of aftershocks showed that the epicentre was gradually shifting towards north as the epicentre was now 110 kms North of Islamabad. Three significant shocks were felt Sunday measuring up to 5.9 on the Richter scale.—Agencies