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| Deadly earthquake strikes Pakistan's Balochistan | Deadly earthquake strikes Pakistan's Balochistan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A powerful earthquake of 7.7 magnitude has killed at least 45 people in a remote area of south-west Pakistan, local officials say. | |
| It struck at 16:29 local time (11:29 GMT) at a depth of 20km (13 miles), 66km north-east of Awaran in Balochistan province, the United States Geological Survey said. | It struck at 16:29 local time (11:29 GMT) at a depth of 20km (13 miles), 66km north-east of Awaran in Balochistan province, the United States Geological Survey said. |
| It was felt as far away as Karachi, Hyderabad, and India's capital, Delhi. | It was felt as far away as Karachi, Hyderabad, and India's capital, Delhi. |
| Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but least populated province. | Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but least populated province. |
| The province is prone to earthquakes, with at least 35 people killed in a 7.8-magnitude tremor that was centred in south-eastern Iran in April. | The province is prone to earthquakes, with at least 35 people killed in a 7.8-magnitude tremor that was centred in south-eastern Iran in April. |
| Mud houses | Mud houses |
| Awaran deputy commissioner Abdul Rasheed Gogazai and the spokesman of Pakistan's Frontier Corps involved in the rescue effort said at least 45 people had been killed. | |
| A spokesman for Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority, Mirza Kamran Zia, says the death toll is likely to rise. | |
| Many of the casualties were from Labach, on the northern outskirts of Awaran town. There are reports of some people trapped under the rubble of collapsed houses. | Many of the casualties were from Labach, on the northern outskirts of Awaran town. There are reports of some people trapped under the rubble of collapsed houses. |
| Abdul Qadoos, deputy speaker of the Balochistan assembly, told Reuters news agency that at least 30% of houses in Awaran district had collapsed. | Abdul Qadoos, deputy speaker of the Balochistan assembly, told Reuters news agency that at least 30% of houses in Awaran district had collapsed. |
| Houses are also reported to have caved in in the district of Khuzdar. | Houses are also reported to have caved in in the district of Khuzdar. |
| Officials in the regional capital, Quetta, said some areas may have suffered serious damage but the remoteness made early assessment impossible. | Officials in the regional capital, Quetta, said some areas may have suffered serious damage but the remoteness made early assessment impossible. |
| People in the region mostly live in mud houses as opposed to multi-story concrete structures, says the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani. | People in the region mostly live in mud houses as opposed to multi-story concrete structures, says the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani. |
| The few concrete buildings in the area mostly house government offices, he adds. | The few concrete buildings in the area mostly house government offices, he adds. |
| An emergency has been declared in the earthquake-affected districts of Awaran and Chagai. | |
| Provincial disaster management officials say tents and medical supplies have been sent from Quetta and neighbouring district headquarters. | |
| More than 200 army troops have also been despatched for rescue efforts. | |
| Pakistan's chief meteorologist Mohammad Riaz told reporters it was a major earthquake that could cause extensive damage. | Pakistan's chief meteorologist Mohammad Riaz told reporters it was a major earthquake that could cause extensive damage. |
| "But it would depend on how dense the population is in the area around the epicentre," he said. | "But it would depend on how dense the population is in the area around the epicentre," he said. |
| Light tremors were also said to have been felt in Karachi and Hyderabad, with reports of people rushing out of office buildings. | Light tremors were also said to have been felt in Karachi and Hyderabad, with reports of people rushing out of office buildings. |
| Pakistani media is also reporting the emergence of a new island off the coast of Gwadar as a result of the earthquake. | |
| Local police official Moazzam Jah told Geo TV the island - which reportedly has an altitude of 20 to 40 feet and width around 100 feet - emerged about half a mile away from the edge of the coastline. |