QUETTA: A moderate earthquake struck Harnai district and adjoining areas of Balochistan on Saturday.
According to initial reports, no loss of life or property has been reported yet, neither intensity and epicentre of the quake have been revealed yet. Panicked residents fled their houses and offices and returned once the tremors retain calm.
In a recent earthquake in parts of Balochistan, at least 20 people were reported dead and more than 300 others were injured. 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 epicentre was located near Harnai at a depth of 15 km.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA, a medical emergency was declared at the Civil Hospital Quetta where doctors and other paramedical staff were recalled on an emergency basis.
Read more: At least 20 killed as 5.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Balochistan
Deputy Commissioner Harnai Sohail Anwar Hashmi had said that several people had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He said that several buildings in Harnai were damaged while many people were buried under the rubble.
Rescue sources had said more than 70 houses were reported damaged in Harnai. Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Lango had confirmed that 20 people have lost their lives in the quake.
He had said that there were reports of damage in Ziarat, Qila Saifullah and Sibi while most of the casualties were reported in Harnai. He added that most people were stuck under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
