Powerful earthquake jolts south Pakistan, 15 killed

At least 15 people were killed when a new powerful earthquake jolted southern and southwestern parts of Pakistan on Saturday. "Nine more bodies have been recovered from the debris in Mashkay area of Awara district, raising the death toll to 15 in the earthquake," Jan Mohammad Buledi, spokesman for the Baluchistan government, told Anadolu Agency on Saturday. Some 50 people were injured in the tremor, Buledi said. Buledi earlier said that six people were killed in the 7.2-measured earthquake. "Six deaths have been confirmed in the wake of (fresh) earthquake in Awaran, while several are stuck under the debris of razed houses in different parts of Awaran," he said. "Army and civilian rescue workers are engaged in rescue operation to find out the people stuck under the debris," he said. Several houses have been razed in Mashkay area of Awaran district by the fresh tremor, deputy commissioner Abdul Qudoos Baloch told reporters. "Many remain stuck under the debris of razed houses," he said. Shocks were felt in Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, Khuzdar, Hyderabad, Turbat, Pasni and Awaran, the worst affected district by Sunday's tremor. "Strong shocks (of earthquake) were felt by and large in the same areas that had experienced the Tuesday's earthquake, including Karachi and Awaran," chief meteorologist Tauseef Alam told AA. Around 700 people have been killed when a powerful quake jolted southern Pakistan on Tuesday. Thousands are still awaiting relief and rescue in many parts of the district, said Abdul Qudoos Bizinjo, the elected parliamentarian from the area.