In 2013, Pakistan was hit by a massive earthquake that killed hundreds and destroyed thousands of homes. However, unlike other earthquakes, this catastrophe left behind not only destruction - after it, a rather large island was formed on the coastline of the country, completely consisting of mud. It could be safely observed from satellites for more than five years, but by 2019 it began to disappear. Why was it formed, and why did it disappear so quickly from the face of the Earth?
The reason for the formation of the island in the Arabian Sea was a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7. After that, four more tremors occurred in the country, due to which more than 20,000 houses were destroyed. The death toll in a series of earthquakes reached 825 people, and over 700 local residents were injured.
How are mud islands formed?
As you know, earthquakes occur due to the movement of the so-called tectonic plates - huge underground blocks that are constantly in motion and in essence are the surface of the Earth. The tremors in Pakistan were caused by the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, during which clay deposits formed between them, which under pressure began to break out to the surface.
The largest mud volcano
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Formations from which mud, gases and a mixture of water and oil are ejected under great pressure are called mud volcanoes. Usually their height does not exceed two meters, but there was so much mud escaping from under the Arabian Sea that an entire island of 20 meters in height with a width of up to 180 meters was formed on the water surface. Mud volcanoes and the islands formed by them can be found all over the world, but this one was so huge that it could even be seen from space.
Island Zalzala Koh from the satellite.
However, the life of this island, which later received the name Zalzala Koh, was short-lived. Since it consisted of semi-liquid mud, its surface began to erode with water after a couple of months. In the satellite photo below, you can see how even in 2016 the outlines of the island were at least a little species, and by 2019 it was practically lost from sight.
The disappearance of the island of Zalzala Koh.
With all this, this island cannot yet be considered completely extinct. Mud volcanoes sometimes activate two or three times, and after a few years the island may reappear on satellite images.
Ramis Ganiev