22 killed, over 200 injured as magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits Balochistan

QUETTA: The death toll in the Balochistan earthquake has reached 22, while over 200 are injured, confirmed provincial home minister Zia Ullah Langau, reported, ARY News reported.

The dealdy earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 at the Richter scale struck parts of Balochistan including Quetta in the wee hours of Thursday night.

The tremors were felt around 3: 01 in the night in Sibi, Pishin, Muslim Bagh, Qila Saifullah Kachlak, Harnai and surrounding areas. People came out of their homes in panic and started reciting verses from the Holy Quran.

According to National Seismic Monitoring Centre, Islamabad, the epicenter of the quake was located in Harnai at the depth of 15 kilometres.

According to Deputy Commissioner Harnai Anwar Hashim, roofs and walls of more than 100 houses collapsed in Harnai and Shahrag, trapping several people under the debris. Dozens of public and private buildings were damaged in parts of Balochistan.

Harnai is the worst-affected remote mountainous area of Balochistan by the quake.

The rescue operation was underway and several injured have been rushed to the hospital, while emergency has been slapped in the hospitals of the province. He expressed fear that the death toll may rise.

DG PDMA, Naseer Nasir said children are also among the dead and feard increase in the death toll.

Many of the victims died when roofs and walls collapsed after the 5.9 magnitude quake struck, with health workers treating the injured with the help of torches after electricity failed.

The quake caused electricity to fail in the region, with health staff working without lights in a poorly equipped government hospital. “We were operating without electricity with the help of torches and mobile flashlights,” a senior official at the Harnai hospital said.

“We are receiving information that 22 people have been killed due to the earthquake. Rescue efforts are underway,” Balochistan home minister Mir Zia ullah Langau added.