By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck southwestern Pakistan early on Wednesday morning, destroying homes and killing at least 100 people, local officials reported.
Officials in the Baluchistan Province near the Afghan border expect the death toll to rise.
The quake struck at 4:09 a.m. local time (23:09 GMT Tuesday), 70 km (45 miles) north of Quetta, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The worst-hit area appeared to be the Ziarat district, where numerous mud houses were destroyed. Mayor Dilawar Kakar said several houses had been buried in a landslide triggered by the quake.
Pakistan’s military has sent helicopters to the Baluchistan Province, carrying rescue and medical teams, as hospitals struggle to cope with the large numbers of injured.