A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 150 people in Balochistan, besides creating a new island off the Gwadar coastline in its wake, Express News reported.
Tremors were felt as far as the Indian capital New Delhi.
The quake struck at 4:29 pm local time (1129 GMT) around 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of the city of Khuzdar in Balochistan province, at a depth of 15 kilometres.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.7, recording its duration as eight seconds.
The area most affected by the quake were Awaran and Khuzdar, with the total number of deaths shooting up to 150. Over 90% of the villages/communities in Awaran were destroyed.
Pakistan Army started an emergency rescue operation immediately.
Director General ISPR, Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted that 300 soldiers are already in the area, with the number expected to rise to 1000 by tomorrow morning. Khuzdar would be used as base for the rescue effort.
On the Gwadar coastline, the quake created a small island about half a mile into the sea near an area called ‘Jhanda’, according to Express News.
The newly appearing island is said to have a mountainous terrain rising up to a hundred feet. A large crowd was seen gathering at the site to see the new island.
The area of the epicentre is sparsely populated, but the USGS issued a red alert for the quake, which left aftershocks of up to 5.9 magnitude, according to the meteorological department.
Minor tremors were felt as far away as New Delhi, while office workers in the city of Ahmedabad near the border with Pakistan ran out of buildings and into the street.
Mumtaz Baluch, senior local administration official in Awaran district, 350 kilometres southwest of Quetta, told AFP: “There are reports of houses being collapsed in the district due to earthquake.”
“We have dispatched our teams to the affected area to ascertain the losses.”
In April a 7.8-magnitude quake centred in southeast Iran, close to the border with Baluchistan, killed 41 people and affected more than 12,000 on the Pakistan side of the border.
People working in offices Karachi rushed out of their building and sat on the footpaths along the roads or stood away from the buildings.
“My work table jerked a bit and again and I impulsively rushed outside,” Noor Jabeen, a 28-year woman working for an insurance company said while breathing heavily.
“It was not so intense but it was terrible,” said Owais Khan, who works for a provincial government office.
“Whenever I feel jolts it reminds me of the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir,” said Amjad Ali, 45, IT official standing on the road said.
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End of live Updates
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5:52pm
Two people are confirmed dead in Awaran, Balochistan as a result of the earthquake.
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5:30pm
Officials from the Met office say major damage and loss of life was averted as the center of the earthquake is located in a remote area.
They have however warned of after-shocks of up to 5 magnitude.
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5:15pm
Relief goods will be provided from Quetta for affected areas in Balochistan.
It is an 8-10 hour drive by road to provide relief goods to Awaran, Balochistan.
It is confirmed that the roofs of two schools have collapsed in Awaran. No loss of life has been reported as yet.
People in cities and towns across Sindh and Balochistan are now returning back to work and into their homes, Express News reports.
A panoramic view of evacuation in Karachi, courtesy @pharhansuhail
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5:05pm
Many houses have been damaged in Balochistan’s Awaran district because of the earthquake. The affected area Awaran is located between Turbat and Khuzdar. The tremors were felt at 4:29pm.
People are reportedly injured in Awaran and are being taken to a hospital.
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5:00pm
According to USGS, the earthquake lasted for eight seconds.
Reports are coming in of houses damaged in Pasni and Awaran, Balochistan after the earthquake.
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4:55pm
The earthquake struck at a depth of 28km Express News reports.
Details of the earthquake and its precise location can be found at the USGS website.
No major damage has been reported as yet, although media reports that the coastline is most affected.
Express Media group employees evacuate the Karachi office. PHOTO: JAHANZAIB HAQUE
Express Media group employees evacuate the Karachi office. PHOTO: JAHANZAIB HAQUE
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4:50pm
Chief Meteorologist confirms a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck parts of Sindh and Balochistan.
The center of the earthquake was Khusdar.
The tremors were also felt as far as New Delhi and other parts of India.
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4:45pm
Initial reports suggest the earthquake was of a magnitude of 7.7, located 145 Miles South-South East Dalbandin-Balochistan.
Strong tremors were felt in Karachi.
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