Harnai quake death toll reaches 26

The death toll from Thursday’s earthquake in Harnai, Balochistan has risen to 26, with six more casualties as relief work continues in various villages of the district.

Over 300 people were injured in different villages of Harnai while hundreds of houses collapsed.

The district administration stepped up relief work and provided tents to the people whose homes were destroyed.

Some of the residents reportedly spent the night under the open sky in areas where the district administration could not reach.

Further, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has directed to intensify relief work in the affected areas while other agencies including the Provincial Disaster Management Authority have intensified rescue work.

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Balochistan Parliamentary Health Secretary Dr Rubaba Khan Buledi said that the injured are being brought to Quetta. “Thirty-three of the injured were brought to the trauma centre of which 21 were provided necessary medical aid and admitted to Civil Sandeman Hospital, Quetta for further treatment.

“Eighteen including four men, as many children and 10 women are undergoing treatment.”

Rubaba said that residential tents have been provided to patients with their attendants at Civil Sandeman Hospital Quetta.

"Proper arrangements have been made for food and drink. Last night, 45 to 50 people were provided food and beds in these tents," she said. "Patients with severe fractures have been treated with antibiotics so that they can be operated on when the swelling subsides."

She said that every possible efforts was being made to provide relief to the affected people.
Pakistan Red Crescent First Aid Department Provincial Coordinator Nadeem said, “More than 50 of our teams have started working.

We have also sent people trained by the Red Crescent to different areas of Balochistan to provide medical aid on an emergency basis, while also issuing instructions to all teams to reach other areas of Harnai.”

He instructed all volunteers of the first aid department not to show negligence in serving humanity.  “They have been instructed to ensure provision of medical aid to every young and old.”