By Xinhua,
Islamabad : The toll in the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Pakistan Wednesday rose to more than 200, media reported Thursday.
The toll is feared to rise further as rescuers were digging up bodies buried under rubble of more than 2,000 collapsed houses in the northern part of Balochistan.
The epicentre of the quake was in the scenic tourist spot Ziarat district, about 60 km north of Balochistan’s capital Quetta.
The earthquake left 15,000 homeless.
Ziarat and Pishin districts were the worst-hit areas, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chief Farooq Ahmed Khan told reporters.
Two C-130 planes had already delivered relief goods and more assistance was on way, Khan said. The Pakistan army had sent 300 paramilitary personnel to Ziarat and 100 to Pishin to help in relief and rescue operations.
As many as 20 aftershocks, the strongest being of 6.2 magnitude, have been recorded and the meteorological department warned that more aftershocks are expected through the week.