Powerful Earthquake Kills 34 In Pakistan

Islamabad, April 17 ,IRNA– A powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale Tuesday killed 34 people and injured 100 others in southwestern Pakistan, military sources said. State media earlier reported that the earthquake jolted Panjgur and Mashkeel area of Balochistan province, bordering Iran. Over 1‚000 houses in Pakistani areas have been partially damaged in Balochistan, radio Pakistan reported. Nearly 50 people sustained injuries in the port city of Karachi in the incidents of the roof collapse. The military sources said that the army doctors and paramilitary soldiers are busy in rescue operation. The military said that more rescue teams from the nearby areas are also being sent to the earthquake-hit areas. Helicopters‚ medical staff‚ medicines‚ tents and other goods have been dispatched to the affected areas in Balochistan, radio Pakistan reported. Pakistan’s seismological department earlier said that the intensity of the tremours in other parts of the country was recorded 5.4-magnitude on the Richter scale. The earthquake shook most parts of the country however parts in Balochistan province, especially near border with Iran, had been the badly affected areas, radio Pakistan reported. Besides Balochistan, tremours were also felt in capital Islamabad, Punjab and Sindh provinces. The earthquake created panic amongst people which also caused cracks in several buildings. In the port city of Karachi, workers and people ran outside and stayed for some time. Buildings in Karachi were immediately evacuated after the tremors were felt. President Asif Ali Zardari and Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and property in the earthquake. The leaders issued instructions to the provincial government of Balochistan to assist those affected by the calamity and provide all possible assistance to them on war footing basis. The Prime Minister is being kept informed about the relief operation and provision of assistance to the affected people, an official statement said. The Prime Minster instructed the provincial government to accelerate their efforts and provide all the possible assistance to those affected by the earthquake./end