September 24 brought with it a major strike-slip earthquake in Pakistan, killing hundreds of people and leaving over 100,000 without a home. The 7.7 magnitude quake also managed to create a new island offshore of Pakistan.
NASA managed to capture its images of this new island via satellite. The new land rose from the seafloor shortly after the earthquake.
The water around the island is about 15 to 20 meters deep (50 to 65 feet) according to a marine geologist. The landform stretches some 75 to 90 meters (250 to 300 feet) and stands about 15 to 20 meters (60 to 70 feed) above water.
First assessments indicate the place was born due to the expansion of natural gas aided by the seismic waves. “On the new island, there is a continuous escape of the highly flammable methane gas through a number of vents,” Asif Inam, of Pakistan’s National Institute of Oceanography said.
The formation is likely to have a short life, experts say, as the underground pocket of gas will cool down, compress or escape over time, which will make the crust collapse and settle back down. Estimates indicate it could last from anywhere between a few months and year before sinking back below the water line.