QUETTA/HARNAI: A strong earthquake in different parts of Balochistan killed at least 20 people and injured more than 300 others early Thursday morning.
The epicentre of earthquake was near Harnai and it was 15 kilometers deep. Rescue teams from Quetta have been rushed to the most affected districts and injured are being shifted to hospitals.
Aftershocks are still being felt in different areas after the quake. The earliest tremors were felt at 3: 20 AM after which panicked citizens rushed out of their houses, reciting kalimas and verses from the Holy Quran. Relief and rescue activities are underway in the affected areas with an emergency declared in all hospitals.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), most of the deceased are children.
The quake affected Quetta, Sibi, Harnai, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Ziarat and Zhob in Balochistan. The magnitude of the quake was measured at 5.9 on the Richter scale. The death toll is feared to rise.
Much of the damage appears to have affected the Harnai district, officials said. Harnai, which is located east of the provincial capital Quetta, has a large number of coal mines.
A medical emergency has been declared at the Civil Hospital Quetta where doctors and other paramedical staff have been recalled on an emergency basis, the MS of the hospital said.
Social media showed houses shaking and light fittings swaying as the quake struck, and later stunned residents gathering in the street in the dark.
The injured were rushed to hospital, while some were treated on stretchers in the street under phone torch light.
Rescue and relief operation is underway after the devastating earthquake in Balochistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The Pakistan Army’s special rescue and relief team is being airlifted to Quetta and Harnai, the NDMA spokesperson said on Twitter.
According to deputy commissioner of Harnai, Sohail Anwar Hashmi, several people have been rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The deputy commissioner said that several buildings in Harnai have been damaged while many people have been left buried under the rubble. He said some government structures also were destructed. The power supply to the area has been suspended, he said.
According to the deputy commissioner, Levies and rescue teams have been dispatched to help and evacuate the affected people. According to the rescue sources, more than 70 houses were reported damaged in Harnai.
The bodies of 10 people, including six children, and over 150 wounded people have been shifted to the hospital, according the MS Harnai Hospital.
Aftershocks are continuing after the quake, which has spread panic among residents. There is a danger of houses collapsing due to these aftershocks, a private TV channel reported.