QUETTA: At least 22 people were killed and more than 200 injured when an earthquake struck parts of Balochistan, Disaster Management Authority Director General Naseer Nasir said on Thursday.
The earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 struck at about 3:01 am while people were sleeping. Rescue workers said the dead were mostly women and children.
The quake was relatively shallow at 20 kilometres (12 miles) with an epicentre 102 kilometres (62 miles) east of Quetta, said the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS initially measured the quake at 5.7 magnitude but revised it to 5.9 a few hours later. It also revised the depth from 20.8 kilometres (12.9 miles) to 9 kilometres (5.6 miles).
More than 100 mud houses collapsed and a large number were damaged, including government buildings. Hundreds of people were rendered homeless, Sohail Anwar, deputy commissioner of the city of Harnai, told Reuters.
The death toll was expected to rise even further as crews searched in the remote mountainous area, said Anwar.
The area, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Quetta, is dotted with coal mines, which has Anwar worried the death toll could rise. It struck in the early morning while scores of miners were already at work, he said.
At least four of the dead were killed when the coal mine in which they were working collapsed, said the deputy commissioner, citing coal miners in the area.
As many as 100 homes also collapsed, burying sleeping residents inside. Social media showed houses shaking and light fittings swaying as the quake struck, and later stunned residents gathering in the street in the dark.
The injured were rushed to hospital, while some were treated on stretchers in the street under phone torch light.
The military was deployed to the earthquake area to airlift dozens of injured from mountain peaks. At least nine critically injured people were taken to the provincial hospital in Quetta. Search and rescue teams have arrived in the mountains, an Inter-Services Public Relations statement said.
Army doctors and paramedics were assisting the civil administration with necessary medical care, the ISPR said, adding that food and medicines were also transported to remote mountainous district Harnai, which was the worst-affected area where a lack of paved roads, electricity and mobile phone coverage hampered rescue efforts.
Concern has grown about scores of coal miners who might be trapped. Homes lay in heaps of mud and straw. Residents of small mountain villages were seen wandering stunned among the rubble.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan shared that assistance and evacuation efforts were underway.
“Blood, ambulances, emergency assistance, [helicopters] and rest all things are placed […] All departments are working on it,” he tweeted.
All assistance and evacuations are underway for the #harnaiearthquake
Medical, local administration and disaster management teams are on high alert and mobilized pic.twitter.com/6Sc1VtHMPs
— Jam Kamal Khan (@jam_kamal) October 7, 2021
Concern has grown about scores of coal miners who might be trapped. Homes lay in heaps of mud and straw. Residents of small mountain villages were seen wandering stunned among the rubble.
“Women, children, everyone, was running here and there,” said resident Ghulam Khan. “We were scared and we didn’t know what to do.”
Ambulances soon arrived to transport the injured to the hospital in Harnai.
Doctors treated patients outside the hospital as 4.6 magnitude aftershocks continued into the morning hours. Children with bloodied bandages were in stretchers outside the hospital as ambulances brought more wounded.
“So far we have treated more than 200 casualties,” said Manzoor Ahmed, medical superintendent of the Harnai district hospital. The small rural facility has been taxed to the limit, he said. As many as 15 bodies were brought there.
Witnesses in the area said residents were wrapped in blankets against the cold, sitting on the side of the road waiting for the aftershocks to subside and for help to arrive.
The area is remote and already the autumn nighttime temperatures are chilly.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Quetta in 1935, killing between 30,000 and 60,000 people, making it one of the deadliest quakes to hit South Asia in recorded history.
CALLS FOR RELIEF
Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered authorities to provide immediate assistance to Harnai and the quake victims and conduct an assessment so relief and compensation could be dispensed.
I have ordered immediate assistance on an emergency basis for the Harnai, Balochistan, earthquake victims & for an immediate assessment of the damage for timely relief & compensation. My condolences & prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 7, 2021
“My condolences and prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones,” he tweeted.
President Arif Alvi offered condolences over the loss of lives in the earthquake. He hoped the authorities would swiftly assist in relief operations.
My condolences to families of those killed in the Harnai Balochistan earthquake. May their souls rest in peace. My prayers are for the injured. I am sure that Provincial & National Disaster Management Authorities will provide quick relief.
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) October 7, 2021
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif said he was saddened over the loss of lives.
Sad over the loss of precious lives due to earthquake in Balochistan last night. My profound condolences and prayers go out to the affected families. The authorities must act on war footing to rehabilitate those affected by this disaster.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 7, 2021
“The authorities must act on war footing to rehabilitate those affected by this disaster,” he tweeted.
— With additional input from Reuters, AP
