Strong Earthquake Rocks Balochistan Again, Over 90 Houses Damaged and Dozens Injured
Quetta: A strong earthquake struck several districts of Balochistan once again on Saturday, causing widespread damage to homes and leaving dozens of people injured.
According to the Seismological Centre, the earthquake measured 5.1 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter was located 58 kilometers northeast of Barkhan at a depth of 19 kilometers. Strong tremors were felt in Musa Khel, Barkhan, Rakhni, Kohlu, and surrounding areas, prompting frightened residents to rush out of their homes.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and local officials reported extensive damage in the affected districts. Deputy Commissioner Musa Khel Abdul Razzaq said that more than 35 houses in the Chap, Rarasham, and Kajhori areas of Kingri Tehsil were either destroyed or severely damaged.
According to local authorities, several people, including women and children, were injured after being trapped under collapsed walls and debris. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, while household belongings, cash, and livestock were also buried under the rubble.
Assistant Commissioner Najibullah Kakar said that more than 90 houses in Musa Khel were either completely destroyed or suffered severe structural damage. He added that over 20 people, including women and children, sustained injuries, while communication with some remote areas has yet to be restored.
Officials also reported damage to roads and the WAPDA Colony following the earthquake, compounding the impact of recent flood-related destruction in the region.
The PDMA said rescue and relief teams were dispatched immediately after the earthquake to assist affected communities. Damage assessment surveys are underway, and emergency response efforts have been intensified.
Meanwhile, families displaced by the earthquake have appealed to the government and district administration for the urgent provision of tents, food supplies, and clean drinking water, as many are forced to remain outdoors in extreme summer heat.
The latest earthquake follows a series of tremors reported in Kohlu and nearby areas a day earlier, when the region experienced three earthquakes within a single day.
