6.2 magnitude quake shakes Pak, 160 dead

Lahore, Oct 29: At least 160 people have been killed in a powerful earthquake that struck parts of the oil and gas rich southwestern Balochistan province. Pishin, Ziarat, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Loralai, Sibbi, Mastung were among the badly hit areas. Several houses and buildings have collapsed. According to geological survey of Pakistan, the epicentre of the quake was in Chiltan mountains.
2:50 PM 10/29/2008

Lahore, Oct 29: The toll in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake rose to 100 and is set to increase as the bodies are being brought out from the rubble. The death toll was expected to rise as reports arrived from remote areas of Baluchistan province, an impoverished area bordering Afghanistan. 100 people have been found dead so far and the government is readying food, shelter and medical care for survivors.
11:40 AM 10/29/2008

Lahore, Oct 29: At least 40 people have succumbed to 6.2-magnitude earthquake in southwestern Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Wednesday, Oct 29 morning. Armed forces have been called in for rescue operations. According to latest reports, the toll is set to increase.

The quake hit around 70 kilometres (45 miles) northeast of the Pakistani city of Quetta, the US Geological Survey said. The deaths occurred in the hilly town of Ziarat in gas-rich Baluchistan province, police official Abdul Khaleq told sources. "We have confirmed reports of more than 40 people dead when their homes collapsed in the earthquake," said Khaleq. The tremor, which struck at a depth of 10 kilometres, sent people running screaming from their homes in Quetta, according to witnesses in the city.

Several people were injured in the panic in Quetta, with one person hurting their legs after jumping from a first floor window and three people wounded when people fired guns in the air after the quake, hospital officials said.

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake in northwest Pakistan and Kashmir killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million in October 2005.
09:18 AM 10/29/2008

OneIndia News