A powerful earthquake has killed at least 250 people in Pakistan's remote south-west province of Balochistan.
A powerful earthquake has killed at least 250 people in Pakistan's remote south-west province of Balochistan.
The 7.7-magnitude quake struck on Tuesday afternoon at a
depth of 20km (13 miles) north-east of Awaran, the US Geological Survey
saidEntire villages are reported to have been flattened in the impoverished and sparsely-populated district of Awaran.
Balochistan government spokesman Jan Buledi said most of the fatalities were in Awaran town and the surrounding villages
Pakistan's military was among the first to respond to the crisis, having a heavy presence in the area already because it is fighting a long-running separatist Baloch insurgency.
After the quake, a small island appeared off the coast near the port of Gwadar.
People gathered on the beach to see the new island, which is reported to be about 200m (656ft) long, 100m (328ft) wide and 20m (65m) high.
The death toll has risen to 348.
About 7000 Kg of food items, 1000 Kg medicine and 200 tents have been distributed among the earthquake affected persons.About 5000 tents were provided to the people and the rescue operation is expected to last another two days at least.Water supply issues were also being addressed and bottled water was being sent in from Karachi.
Survivors built makeshift shelters with sticks and bedsheets after their mud houses were flattened
The remoteness of the area and the lack of infrastructure hampered relief efforts. Awaran district is one of the poorest in the country’s most impoverished province
Awaran district has about 300,000 residents spread out over 29,000 square kilometers (11,197 square miles)
Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but least populated province.
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