Tremors: Quake jolts parts of Balochistan

The magnitude of the earthquake was 5.4 on the Richter scale, epicentre was Qila Abdullah near Pak-Afghan border

QUETTA: A powerful earthquake jolted various parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Pishin, and Chaman, on Friday.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.4 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was Qila Abdullah near Pak-Afghan border. No loss of life or property was reported.

However, the tremors created panic among the citizens who rushed out of their homes and office buildings to escape destruction.

Last month, at least six people were killed when a powerful earthquake rattled parts of the country. Five people died in various remote regions of the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the National Disaster Management Authority said in a statement, and at least 20 homes were damaged.

The 6.6-magnitude quake had struck neighbouring northeast Afghanistan at a depth of 210 kilometres at 2:58pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2016.