The death toll from Tuesday’s earthquake in Pakistan  has risen to 350. The death toll is feared to rise as many injured have sustained critical injuries.

Islamabad, Sept 26/Nationalturk – The death toll from 7.8 earthquake, which struck southwest Pakistan on Tuesday evening, has risen to 350. The death toll is feared to rise as many injured have sustained critical injuries.

The earthquake of 7.8-magnitude on Richter scale hit Pakistan on Tuesday forenoon. The far flung Awaran district of country’s restive Balochistan province has borne maximum brunt of the quake.

The structures including houses, schools, government buildings and hospitals has been flattened in the Awaran district which has the population of 300000.

“At least 350 people have been confirmed dead in the earthquake so far. Over 500 have been injured,” said an official of Baluchistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

They official said that in only Awaran district, which was worst hit by the quake, 307 people have died. “We have also received information about 43 deaths from other Kech district of Balochistan, which was also worst affected by the earthquake”.”

Death toll may go up’

The official said the death toll may go up has many people have sustained critical injuries and there are fears that some people may still be trapped in debris of collapsed houses and structures in far-off and remote villages of Awaran district.

“The relief and rescue operation in the quake-hit areas was underway and five thousands camps have been set up. Six districts of Balochistan were badly affected by the earthquake and district Awaran was the worst hit followed by Kech, Panjgore, Gawadar, Chaghi and Khuzdar districts, spokesman of Balochistan government Jan Muhammad Buledi said.

Pakistan’s armed forces – Army, Air force and Navy have launched relief and rescue operations. The army and air force have pressed helicopters into service to carry food, tents and other related items to the quake-hit areas and evacuated injured to the hospital.

“At least six helicopters are taking part in the rescue work,” Pakistan’s military spokesman has said.

The tremors were felt as far away as Indian Capital New Delhi and even Dubai in the Gulf on Tuesday.

‘Relief-n-Rescue operation is risky’

The relief and rescue operations are a bit risky in the areas as it is being said that well armed militants are present in the area.

The militants had fired on a team of doctors, who were rushing to Awaran district on Tuesday evening to help treat the injured people.

Meanwhile, media reports said helicopter of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman Major General Muhammad Saeed Aleem was targeted with rockets while it was on its way to Mashkey, Balochistan to assess earthquake relief work.

Reports said that rockets missed the helicopter and exploded in air. Major General Aleem and other persons travelling in the copter escaped unhurt.

“Most of the quake-hit area in Awaran district are highly risky for relief workers and officials functionaries as it is a hub of Baloch militants,” said a senior officer of paramilitary Frontier Corps.

Timeline of major tremors in Pakistan

On April 16, 2013, earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale hit Quetta area of Pakistan. 34 people were reportedly killed and over 10000 houses damaged in the quake.

On October 28, 2008 an earthquake measuring 6.4 on Richter scale hit Quetta and surrounding areas in Balochistan, killing at least 160 people and injuring 370 others.  in Balochistan.

On October 8, 2005, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on Richter scale struck Pakistan administered Kashmir and Northern areas of Pakistan. Over 80,000 people were killed and 200,000 injured in the quake.

On February 28, 1997, a 7.2 earthquake hit Pakistan and lasted for 30 – 90 seconds. Over 100 people were killed in the earthquake.

On December 28, 1974, high intensity 7.4 earthquake hit Pakistan, causing 5300 deaths. Over 17000 people were injured and 4400 houses destroyed.

On September 10 1971, a powerful earthquake hit Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan, killing over 100 people and destroying more than 1000 houses.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

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