After Tuesday’s 7.8 tremor in which over 500 people were killed, Pakistan was again jolted by 6.8 earthquake on Saturday.
Islamabad, Sept 28/Nationalturk – An earthquake of 6.8 magnitude on Richter scale jolted many cities of Pakistan on Saturday.
According to US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake had maganitude of 6.8 on the Richter Scale at a depth of 14.8km and struck 96km northeast of Awaran in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, which was worst hit by 7.8 tremor on Tuesday.
However, Pakistan’s Metrological officials said the earthquake, with Khusdar as its epicenter, was of magnitude 7.2 and 47km deep.
“The earthquake was felt in Karachi, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Quetta, Jaffarabad, Dadu, Sibi, Chagai, Girdonwah, Dalbandin, Dera Layar, Qazi Ahmed, Machh, Kech, Pungur and other areas of Sindh and Balochistan,” they said adding the tremor lasted about 8 to 10 seconds.
Tremors caused panic
The tremors caused panic with people rushing out of their homes and offices and spending time in open.
“The origin of today’s earthquake was once again Awaran. These were more like strong aftershocks and more can be expected,” said Zahid Rafi, director of Pakistan National Seismic Centre.
An official spokesman of Balochistan government said they were checking about the damages and casualties, if any, caused by today’s quake.
Death toll in Tuesday’s 7.8 tremor reaches 515
The death toll in Tuesday’s 7.8 earthquake has gone up to 515 with far-flung Awaran district of restive Balochistan accounting for most of the casualties. Over 600 people have also sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment.
Most of the structures, schools, government offices, hospitals and other buildings in Awaran district has collapsed and more than 50000 people have been rendered homeless.
Pakistan’s armed forces – Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy and paramilitary Frontier Corps have launched a rescue and relief operation. However, the relief operation is being hampered as militants, who are said to present in Awaran district, have thrice fired on rescue workers. On Tuesday evening, they fired on a team of doctors, who were rushing to quake-hit areas to treat the injured people. Then on Wednesday militants fired rockets on a helicopter carrying Pakistan army officers, who were on way to Awaran to take stock of rescue and relief operation. On Friday, an army helicopter carrying relief goods to the quake-hit areas was fired on in Mashkay area of Awaran district by militants. The militants are also reported to have fired on rescue and relief workers in quake hit areas.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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