QUETTA, Feb 4 Experts of the Geological Survey of Pakistan have said that thick smoke spewing from the mountainous areas of Waam in Ziarat, and the sounds of explosions there, may well be signs of volcanic activity in the region.

Reports reaching here over the past few days have said a mountain near Killi Waam area, which had developed cracks in the Oct 29 earthquake, was spewing lava after explosions and thick smoke had enveloped the area. Tremors measuring up to 3.8 on the Richter scale were also recorded there.

The geological experts reached the area after these reports and started an investigation. They visited the site and collected some samples of hot black rocks and lava.

Sardar Saeed Akhtar, a senior official of the GSP, told Dawn that experts had collected some samples of lava that would be sent to a laboratory to ascertain the depth of the volcanic activity.

He said there was no precedent of any volcanic activity in the country, but the Ziarat incident was of great importance. The official said it was premature to say that people of the area were in imminent danger.

“We are watching the situation carefully and a clear picture would emerge after laboratory tests,” Sardar Saeed said.

Residents of Killi Waam, a small locality in Ziarat district badly hit by the 2008 earthquake, had noticed a huge quantity of dark black material at the mountain summit after an explosion a couple of days ago.

The cone-shaped hole which had emitted a dark hot material is reported to be several metres deep.