7,8 magnitude earthquake hits Pakistan

A powerful earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale rocked the southern and southwestern parts of Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring many others. Baluchistan provincial government spokesman Jan Mohamed Buledi told Anadolu Agency that 32 bodies have been recovered from Awaran and Pasni districts. "The death toll may further shoot up as several injured are in precarious condition," he warned.

Buledi confirmed that the towns of Awaran, Pasni and Dalbadin had all been badly affected by the quake.

"[A state of] emergency has been imposed at all the hospitals in the three districts and rescue teams are being sent," he said.

Six bodies have been pulled out of the debris in Awaran alone, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Rasheed Baloch confirmed.

"Rescue operations are underway, as many people are still lying under the debris in various parts of the district," he told AA.

At least four people were reported injured in Pasni where several buildings and houses were fully or partially damaged.

Army teams backed by helicopters have been sent to the affected areas as the local administration faced difficulties to cope with the gravity of destruction caused by the earthquake, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced.

Some two hundred troops, in addition to personnel of the paramilitary force Frontier Constabulary, who are already deputed in Baluchistan, have been sent to Awaran, and Pasni districts.

The quake disputed communications in the towns, making it difficult for rescue workers and government officials to evaluate the extent of the destruction.