The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has refuted a recent earthquake prediction by Dutch scientist Frank Hoogerbeets, labeling it “almost impossible.”
Hoogerbeets had forecasted a “major earthquake” striking Pakistan within the “next 48 hours,” but PMD experts have raised doubts about the validity of such predictions.
Earthquake Causes and Terrain:
According to a senior PMD official, earthquakes are primarily caused by disturbances underground, which can be attributed to various factors such as geological features like large lakes, crater-like structures, or rock formations like high mountains interacting with tectonic plates.
The official emphasized that the specific terrain and plate formations worldwide are not completely understood.
Monitoring Plate Movements with GPS:
Professor Din Muhammad, Former dean of Environmental Sciences at Balochistan University, mentioned using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to monitor plate movements in Balochistan.
He stated that, as of now, there have been no indications of an impending earthquake in the region.
Hoogerbeets’ Prediction and Planetary Geometry:
Frank Hoogerbeets, a research and software developer associated with the Solar System Geometry Survey (SSGEOS), had predicted an earthquake along the Chaman fault line in Balochistan.
He mentioned planetary geometry as a factor influencing his prediction and pointed to specific dates when seismic activity might be more critical.
Caution and Uncertainty:
Hoogerbeets, who has gained attention for some of his past seismic predictions, cautioned that while atmospheric fluctuations near Pakistan had been recorded on September 30, they serve as indicators rather than definitive predictions of an impending earthquake.
He noted that such fluctuations were also observed before previous tremors, such as those in Morocco. However, he emphasized the uncertainty in predicting earthquake occurrences with absolute certainty.
It is essential to exercise caution and rely on the expertise of geological and meteorological authorities when assessing earthquake predictions, as seismic events are complex and often difficult to forecast accurately.
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