Mild tremors jolt Quetta, other parts of Balochistan

Published November 15, 2013
The first tremor measured 3.7 in the Richter scale and the second was of magnitude 5.2. — File photo
The first tremor measured 3.7 in the Richter scale and the second was of magnitude 5.2. — File photo

QUETTA: Two mild earthquake tremors jolted Quetta and other parts of Balochistan on Friday. The first tremors forced people to come out of their homes and buildings on to streets and roads of Balochistan’s provincial capital, which is located in a 'red zone' when it comes to looming dangers of earthquake.

"I was sitting inside my house when the earthquake struck," said Hinna Hafeez. “I came out of my house along with my parents,” she said.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the epicentre of the earthquake was located inside the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan. On the Richter scale, it was recorded as 3.7 with a 10 kilometre depth.

People were already on the streets and roads following the first tremors when another earthquake struck. They then walked away from crowded places towards parks and other deserted areas of the city.

According to the PMD, the epicentre of the second earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was 58 kilometres southeast of Quetta.

The depth of this quake was also 10 kilometres, the meteorological department said.

The two mild quakes caused panic among the people.

Quetta and most parts of Balochistan are considered to be earthquake-prone. In 1935, within 30 seconds Quetta was razed to the ground in a powerful earthquake. Similarly, a recent earthquake in Balochistan's Awaran district brought destruction to the region.

According to Balochistan government spokesman Jan Muhammad Buledi, the Awaran earthquake has killed more than 400 people in the sparsely populated district of the province.

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