A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit southern Pakistan on Thursday. It has been killed at least 20 people and injured more than 200, government officials said.
- The US Geological Survey said the quake struck Balochistan at 3 am local time and at a depth of around 20km. Quite a few victims died when roofs and walls collapsed, Suhail Anwar Hashmi, a senior provincial government official informed. A woman and six children were among 20 dead, he added.
- Naseer Nasar, the head of Balochistan’s provincial disaster management authority, said that between 15 and 20 people had died, but that the toll may increase. He further said, “we are receiving information that 20 people have been killed due to the earthquake. Rescue efforts are underway.”
- The worst-affected area was the remote mountainous city of Harnai, in Balochistan. The place’s lack of paved roads, electricity, and mobile phone coverage has hampered the rescue effort.
- The earthquake was also felt in Balochistan’s provincial capital, Quetta that is about 100km west of the epicenter.
- However, a 7.5-magnitude quake in Pakistan and Afghanistan killed almost 400 people in October 2015.
- The country was also hit by a 7.6-magnitude quake on October 8, 2005, that killed almost 80,000 people and left about 3.5 million homeless.
