35 killed, 180 injured in Pakistan earthquake

At least 35 people were killed, over 180 others injured and hundreds of houses collapsed when a strong earthquake of 7.9 magnitude jolted parts of southern and southwest Pakistan on Tuesday, local officials said.

People evacuate buildings after a severe earthquake in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 16, 2013.

Arif Mahmood, Director General of Pakistan Meteorological Office, said the earthquake hit Pakistan at local time 15:44:21 pm and lasted for about 20 to 25 seconds.

He said that the epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 76 km in Iran's mountainous area of Khash near Pakistan border.

Mashkel village, located in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, was badly affected by the earthquake, as at least 34 people were killed and over 150 others injured due to strong tremors.

The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where several of them were reportedly in critical conditions.

Local media said that over 1,000 houses of the village and its adjacent areas which are home to over 35,000 people, were collapsed in the earthquake.

Army sources said that the earthquake razed hundreds of houses to ground and several people are feared to be buried under the rubbles.

More details about casualties and the conditions of injured people are awaited as the affected areas are located in a far flung mountainous region, at about 514 km away from the provincial capital of Quetta.

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the mouthpiece of Pakistan army, said that a wing of paramilitary Frontier Corps is carrying out rescue and relief operation in the Mashkel village, and medical teams, food items, tents and medicine have also been airlifted to the quake-hit areas via Army Helicopters.

The earthquake also jolted the country's southern port city of Karachi, as at least five people were injured when two buildings partially collapsed.

Flight operations were disrupted due to the earthquake and the airport was closed for some time in Karachi.

The earthquake created panic among the public as people rushed out of their houses in fear.

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