QUETTA: Relief operation continues in the border town of Mashkel which was badly affected by a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Iran on Tuesday, forcing thousands of people to live in the open.

About 15,000 people have been rendered homeless after their houses and shops were destroyed or badly damaged by the quake.

Forty people were reportedly killed and over 100 injured. The area has been without electricity since Tuesday.

The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) has finalised a plan to build container houses in the area to provide temporary shelter to the quake-hit people. A group of people affected by the quake held a demonstration on Friday in protest against inadequate supply of food and other relief items.

They gathered in the deserted town, chanted slogans against the government and the local administration and demanded that relief goods be supplied to them immediately. “We need tents, food and potable water,” shouted the protesters.

The people whose houses remain safe have refused to return home for fear of aftershocks which continue to haunt them. “We should be provided tents immediately as we are living in the open in the simmering heat,” the quake victims told journalists.

Provincial authorities admitted that the supply of relief goods was poor and said dilapidated roads were the main cause of hurdles in the relief operation.

“There is no proper road link between Dalbandin and the remote town of Mashkel,” officials said, adding that relief goods were being sent through army helicopters.

“PDMA trucks carrying tents, food and other goods are on their way and will reach the affected area,” they said. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has completed initial survey of the losses which will be submitted to the government soon. Erra Director General Abdi Hussain assured the affected people that they would be provided all help and facilities. “Container houses will be built in the quake-hit area after the assessment of the losses is completed,” he said during a visit to Mashkel.

Mr Hussain said 1,300 tents were on way and another 1,000 would reach the area in two days. “Besides a water scheme in Mashkel, road network connecting Washuk with Nokundi and Dalbandin would also be built,” he added.

He said affected people would not be left alone in this hour of trouble and all necessary support would be extended to mitigate their suffering.

The Army and Frontier Corps personnel and medical teams are carrying out relief work and providing necessary goods and medical facilities to the quake-struck community.

The Quetta Electric Supply Company has set up an emergency cell in Mashkel and its engineers are trying to restore the power supply suspended after the earthquake.

The communication system could not be restored even after four days. The authorities said efforts were under way to restore the system.