DHAKA: A strong earthquake of magnitude struck the Dalbandin area in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday, killing at least 10 people.

Deputy Commissioner Awaran, Abdul Rasheed Baloch confirmed the death 10 people – all from the province’s far-flung Awaran district, reports dawn.com.

‘Six dead bodies have been recovered in Awaran bazar,’ he said, adding that four dead bodies have been recovered in far flung villages of the district.

He said levies personnel have retried 10 dead bodies from the rubble of houses collapsed in the aftermath of deadly earthquake.

‘I fear more people are trapped inside the collapsed houses,’ he said.

Baloch said a rescue operation was launched in the area and all forces were placed on high alert to retrieve the people from the rubble.

He said there were reports that hundreds of mud- houses had also collapsed during tremors in the district.

Balochistan chief minister Dr Malik Baloch has ordered deputy commissioners of all 30 districts to remain on high alert in the aftermath of deadly quake.

Spokesman for the government of Balochistan, Jan Buledi, told media that a rescue operation had been launched in Awaran.

According to the US Geoplogical Survery, the intensity of the quake was measured at 7.8 on the Richter scale while the Pakistan meteorological office said the epicentre was located near Kharan area of Balochistan.

BDST: 2012 HRS, SEPT 24, 2013
RoR/RK