An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 jolted Harnai town in Balochistan around 3 am on Thursday with more than 200 casualties including the dead.
More than 20 people have been reported dead so far while dozens have been injured.
According to the U.S Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicenter was 102 kilometers (kms) east of Quetta.
More than 100 structures including the government buildings collapsed due to the earthquake. Most of the homes in Harnai town are made of mud and therefore more prone to earthquake tremors.
The videos on social media showed swaying light fittings forcing the locals to go out to the streets to save lives.
#Earthquake jolts #Quetta and other parts of #Balochistan pic.twitter.com/1N2gtiHqTw
— Quetta Voice (@VoiceQuetta) October 6, 2021
Quetta is trembling….
Heavy jolts of #earthquake pic.twitter.com/EpgdVwWQcp— Dr Israr Achakzai (@drisrarachakzai) October 6, 2021
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Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal said all assistance and evacuations are underway.
The landslides triggered by the earthquake are hampering rescue operations.
He said the medical teams and local administration along with the disaster management cell are on high alert and mobilized.
All assistance and evacuations are underway for the #harnaiearthquake
Medical, local administration and disaster management teams are on high alert and mobilized pic.twitter.com/6Sc1VtHMPs
— Jam Kamal Khan (@jam_kamal) October 7, 2021
The casualties in the Balochistan earthquake are expected to rise as rescue operations are underway.
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake had hit Quetta in 1935 in which more than 30,000 people were killed.