Karachi: Several cities of Pakistan’s Sindh and Balochistan provinces were on Saturday hit by a massive 7.2-magnitude aftershock, three days after an earthquake measuring 7.7 struck the region killing over 500 people.
Pakistan’s Chief Meteorologist Officer Mohammad Riaz said the earthquake was measured at 7. 2 on the Richter Scale and its origin was 150 kilometre west if Khuzdar in Balochistan province.
However, the US Geological Survey measured the tremor at 6.8 on the Richter Scale. Tremors were felt in provincial capitals Karachi and Quetta. All the local television channels showed people rushing out of their offices in Karachi.
“The tremors were not so strong as last time but one could still feel the chairs moving and tables shaking,” Adnan Ahmed a employee of a media group said.
Zahid Rafi, Director of the National Seismic Centre, said, “These were more like strong aftershocks and more can be expected.”
He said the tremors could be felt in major cities like Karachi, Quetta, Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Naseerabad, Sukkur, Mustung and Kharan.
Rescue teams are still to reach several remote areas, including the worst-hit Balochistan’s Awaran district near the epicentre of Tuesday’s temblor.
While the official death count stands at 515, unofficial figures are as high as 700, with more than 800 injured. The earthquake left more than 50,000 people homeless in these areas.
The quake-hit area was also rocked on Friday by a massive aftershock measuring 5 on the Richter scale. (PTI)