CNews QUETTA: The death toll in Balochistan earthquake has reached to 215, while hundreds have been reported wounded.More quake tremors hit Balochistan and Sindh areas today’s evening which according to Met Department DG were not sheer aftershocks, as the severity of these shocks was more than the morning tremors.
The most hit areas include District Ziarat, Pishin and Fort Abdullah, where large number of houses collapsed. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.4. It was centered about 400 miles southwest of the capital, Islamabad.
At least 50 people were injured in Quetta; while, many mud houses collapsed.
An operation room headed by AIG Mujahid Awais has been established to provide relief to the earthquake victims.
The administration has initiated relief and rescue operations and emergency has been declared in hospitals.
The quake-triggered landslides have caused losses in Ziarat, Quetta and Pishin as the sources feared increase in the death toll. The dead and injured included large number of women and children.
I.G. Frontier Corps Baluchistan Maj. Gen. Saleem Nawaz has said that magnitude 6.5 quake tremors were occurred at 4:05 am. In Ziarat 47 persons have been killed and around 57 were wounded, he said.
The Army and Frontier Corps rescuers were sent for the relief operation.
"There can be more aftershocks but the people have been aware, which will help them to avoid further losses," he further said.
I.G. Frontier Corps also thanked the media for the quake coverage however added that in most far-flung villages television transmissions not watched and they should be informed about the situation through radio transmissions.
Director General Meteorological Department Qamar-uz-Zaman has said the quake forecast is impossible, however it can be said that more aftershocks can occur in the area.
According to OneWorld correspondent three jolts of the quake were felt in Balochistan including a 6.5 tremor.
After strong earthquake people were advised through mosque loud speakers to quit their houses to open places.
Chief Minister of Baluchistan Aslam Raeesani has declared emergency in the hospitals and all staff has been directed to call their respective hospitals.
Initial reports suggest that areas of Quetta, Sibi, Bolan, Chaman, Mastung, Qilla Abdullah and Qalat were trembled in the seismic activity. The epicentre of the quake was said to be 500 km away from Peshawar, capital city of NWFP.
The quake struck just after 4 a.m. in Balochistan, an impoverished province bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistan is prone to violent seismic upheavals. In October 2005, a magnitude-7.6 quake devastated Kashmir and northern Pakistan, killing about 80,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.
