At least 12 dead in powerful new Balochistan earthquake: officials

The Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Tauseef Alam said that the earthquake had Khusdar at its epicenter.

AWARAN: A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 12 people in a region already devastated by a tremor which left more than 300 people dead this week, local officials said.

"At least 12 people have died and seven were wounded," Abdul Latif Kakar, head of the provincial disaster management agency told AFP.

Officials fear the death toll in Saturday's quake in Awaran, the poorest district in the southwest province of Baluchistan, could rise.

The earthquake was also felt in parts of Sindh at 12:34pm on Saturday, Express News reported.

According to USGS the quake was of magnitude 6.8 at a depth of 14.8km and struck 96km northeast of Awaran.

The Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Tauseef Alam said that the earthquake, with Khusdar as its epicenter, was of magnitude 7.2 and 47km deep.

Tremors were felt in Karachi, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Quetta, Jaffarabad, Dadu, Sibi, Chagai, Girdonwah, Dalbandin, Dera Layar, Qazi Ahmed, Machh, Kech, Pungur and other areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

The earthquake lasted about 8 to 10 seconds.

The Quetta Assembly session was stopped and evacuated when tremors were felt.

On Friday, an aftershock of the Balochistan earthquake registering magnitude 5 was felt in the Awaran district.

The epicenter of the quake on Friday was in Ormara and its depth was around 10 kilometers.

CM Balochistan on rehabilitation efforts

Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik said that no matter how hard the government tries, somethings will be left.

However, he said that the target was to give tents and food to people without shelter.

He said that the provincial government was coordinating with various groups and that swift action is being taken.