At least twenty people died, including several children, and more than 300 were injured in an earthquake of 5.9 degrees on Richter's open scale that hit Southwest Pakistan, where rescue work continues.
The earthquake of 5.9 degrees occurred at 3.30 (22.30 GMT on Wednesday) near the city of Harnai, in the province of Baluchistan, 9 kilometers deep, reported the United States Geological Center (USGS).
"So far 20 people died and more than 300 have been injured. Two helicopters have come to the city of Harnai to transport the serious injured by air to Quetta," the regional capital said to Efe Khan, an officer in the room of Disaster Management Control of the province.
The National Disaster Management Authority has sent Personal to the affected area, as well as medical equipment and food, while collecting information about the magnitude of the damage, Khan added.
The Minister of the Interior of Baluchistan, Mir Ziaullah Langau, confirmed Efe the number of deceased, among whom are several children, and noted that the earthquake occurred when people slept, which raised the magnitude of the catastrophe.
Rescue services are trying to locate survivors under the debris of housing and walls and "emergency status has been imposed in the District of Harnai", including the urgently call to hospital staff, Langau explained.
"I think there will be more deaths than the number we have so far," the Balochistan Minister, one of the poorest and most unstable regions of the country.
Southern Asia has a high level of seismicity because of its proximity to the Himalayas, where they collide the two large continental plates of India and Eurasia, which converge at a relative speed of 40 to 50 millimeters per year.
A tremor of magnitude 7.7 degrees in 2013 also in Balochistan caused at least 359 dead and 750 injured, while another of 5.6 degrees in September 2019 at the Pakistani Kashmir left 37 dead and more than 500 injured.
Date Of Update: 08 October 2021, 16:30
