Four dead, several injured as powerful earthquake jolts Pakistan

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake that jolted parts of Pakistan for at least 30 seconds Tuesday left at least four dead, several injured and damaged properties, reported the 24NewsHd TV channel.

A 13-year-old girl died when the wall of her house collapsed in Swat. Her dead body was shifted to a hospital. At least 120 people were brought to the Swat hospitals with wounds due to the quake.

In another incident, a person suffered a heart attack while going down the stairs in Sector G-7 of Islamabad due to the earthquake. He was shifted to the Polyclinic Hospital for medical aid where the doctors pronounced him dead.

In another incident, a young girl died due to fear of the earthquake in Narian in Abbottabad. The doctors said that the girl identified as Sanam Waheed suffered a heart attack due to which she died.

The roof of a house collapsed in Sheikh Jana Ahmad Khel village of Tehsil Rizar in Swabi district injuring at least four persons.

According to initial reports, Rescue 1122 shifted the injured to a hospital for medical assistance.  

At least a woman died and 23 other peoples were injured during the earthquake in Dir Lower.

The district hospitals have been put on alert to handle the emergency situation.

A portion of a house has been caved in Tirah Valley. According to the sources, the room of a person named Yara Jan collapsed due to the earthquake and he received minor injuries.

A woman was injured severely when the ceiling of the room collapsed in Khyber district, hospital sources said.

The injured woman was shifted to District Orakzai Mishti Hospital.

Two people were shifted to DHQ Hospital due to injuries.

Five people including 2 women were injured in various incidents in Peshawar.

One person injured in roof collapse in Swabi, one woman injured in Lower Dir Nursing Hostel, one woman injured in roof collapse in Chitral, one person injured in roof collapse in Buner, one person seriously injured in roof collapse in Mardan.

According to the US Geological Survey, an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 rocked Afghanistan and Pakistan Tuesday night.

The quake epicentre was 40 kilometres (25 miles) south-southeast of the Afghan town of Jurm, near the borders with Pakistan and Tajikistan.

It struck at a depth of more than 185 miles, USGS said.

The earthquake was also felt in India, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries. 

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said that a 6.8 magnitude earthquake was reported in the Hindu Kush region on Tuesday night at a depth of 180 kilometres.

According to AFP, witnesses said that the strong earthquake lasting for at least 30 seconds was felt across much of Pakistan on Tuesday night.

 “People ran out of their houses and were reciting the Quran,” an AFP correspondent in Rawalpindi said, with similar reports coming from Islamabad, Lahore and elsewhere in the country.

TV footage showed citizens out on the streets from their homes and buildings after the quake shocks were felt.

Rescue 1122 director general Dr Khateer Ahmad said the department had received a phone call each from Swabi and Lower Dir on which rescue teams were despatched.

“No confirmed reports of any loss of life or property have been received yet. Rescue 1122 is on high alert and ready to provide services during any emergency,” he said.

So far there have been no confirmed reports of human loss or property damage.

The quake shocks were felt in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Jhelum, Sheikhupura, Swat, Noeshera, Multan, Swat, Shangla and other places.

Several people sustained injuries in earthquake-related incidents across the county, however, no death is reported so far.

According to police, seven people were brought to the district hospital in the Timergara area of Lower Dir. Most of the people were injured in a stampede during the earthquake, the official added.

During the tremors, the roof of a house caved in Jamrud. No causality was reported in the incident, the police confirmed.

In twin cities — Islamabad and Rawalpindi — cracks emerged in various high-rise commercial and residential buildings and flats, triggering panic among the residents.

With Inputs from AFP