Earthquake in Karaganda region: Why non-seismic zones are shaking

Tengrinews.kz - An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 was recorded in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region on October 30. Mukhtar Khaidarov, Advisor to the Seismic Safety and Mobilization Preparation of the Almaty Akimat (local government administration), explained the possible causes of the tremors.
According to Khaidarov, all earthquakes in this region since 1900 have been moderate or weak, with magnitudes around 4.

"The Balkhash Basin is made up of very solid Paleozoic rocks that prevent significant seismic activity. This area, known as the Kazakh Fold Belt (Kazakh Uplands), is not expected to experience high seismicity," he noted.

Khaidarov explained that water bodies can provoke earthquakes against the background of tectonic plate compression. Surface, lake, and groundwater increase the water saturation in faults, which can lead to shifts in fault lines and, ultimately, to earthquakes.
The expert added that Lake Balkhash, with its shallow depth, exerts low pressure on the earth’s crust, which results only in moderate seismicity in the area.

"This indicates that the region has moderate seismicity, where minor earthquakes may occur but are infrequent," Khaidarov said.

He also referenced a minor earthquake in the Kostanay region in July this year, a rare event for this non-seismic area.

"These incidents are likely industrial explosions with magnitudes between 1 and 2.8. Only one or two such events could be classified as weak earthquakes after thorough examination. They may result from subsidence or shifts in the earth’s upper layers during mining operations. In general, this region cannot be considered seismically active," the expert concluded.

On October 36, an earthquake was recorded in the Karaganda region.