A deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Pakistan on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The death toll rose quickly, with at least 30 deaths reported in the quake’s aftermath in Awaran in Balochistan province, said Asad Gilani, the province’s home secretary.
In addition to the fatalities, “dozens have been injured,” Gilani said.
Officials fear people are trapped in the rubble.
The province declared a rescue emergency. All officials were put on high alert, and doctors at hospitals were on standby.
More than 200 troops have been sent to the area to provide aid, including rescue teams and medical teams, Lt. Col. Abid Ali Askari said.
The tremors lasted two minutes. People flocked out onto the streets of Quetta, the provincial capital.
The quake was strong enough to cause a mass 30 to 40 feet high to emerge from the ocean like a small mountain island off the coast of Gwadar, local police official Mozzam Jah said. A large number of people gathered to view the newly formed island, he said.
Zahid Rafi, principal seismologist of the National Seismic Monitoring Center, confirmed the island had. He said that this is “not surprising” considering the magnitude of the earthquake.
Tags: Pakistan
