At least 45 people have been killed as a powerful earthquake struck southwest Pakistan on Tuesday.
According to the Meteorological Department, the epicenter of the 7.7
magnitude earthquake was 120Km southwest of Khuzdar in Balochistan
province at a depth of 10 kilometers. The US Geological Survey measured
the earthquake at 7.8.
Tremors which began at 16:29 (PST) were felt for two minutes in several cities of Sindh and Balochistan.
Emergency was declared by Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik
Baloch in the Awaran district of the province which was the most
affected by the earthquake. Officials said the tremors demolished dozens
of mud houses and it was feared that the death toll would increase.
Sixteen people were killed in Baididal and Parindar areas. Six people
lost their lives in Labash area, while 7 bodies were recovered from the
Tarteij area. Another 16 people were killed in the Mangoli area of
Awaran. A levies building also collapsed in the district.
DG ISPR Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted that Khuzdar would be the base
for rescue efforts and night flying helicopters with medics were on
their way. He added that 300 soldiers were busy in rescues efforts and
the strength would grow to 1,000 by late morning.
Speaking to Geo News, Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz said: “this was a major earthquake and heavy destruction is likely.”
Residents of cities where tremors were felt ran out of their offices
and homes onto the roads. Apart from Awaran there have been no reports
of major damage or loss of life in other cities.
Light tremors were also felt in Northern India, Iran, UAE and Oman.
In April a 7.8-magnitude quake centered in southeast Iran, close to the
border with Baluchistan, killed 41 people and affected more than 12,000
on the Pakistan side of the border.
A 7.6 magnitude quake in 2005 centered in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,
killed at least 73,000 people and left several million homeless in one
of the worst natural disasters to hit Pakistan.
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