Earthquake kills 20 in Pakistan's Balochistan

At least 20 people have been killed in an earthquake in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale. At least 300 people were injured in the quake on Thursday morning, local time, according to a BBC report.

Disaster management officials said the death toll could rise further. Various footage spread on social media showed people in the provincial capital Quetta taking to the streets in panic after the quake.

A government official said people had been killed in the collapse of various installations. The injured have been admitted to hospitals in various accidents due to the earthquake. Several of them are in critical condition. Rescue operations are underway.

Most of the dead were children and women, according to a Reuters report. Officials said most of the damage occurred in Harnai district.

Harnai, east of Quetta, is home to a large coal mine. It is feared that the quake may have caused damage to these coal mines. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langu said emergency services were operating in the area.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PMDA) said the magnitude of the quake in Balochistan was 5.9. The quake affected several parts of the country, including the capital Quetta. The quake killed at least 20 people and injured more than 300 others on Thursday morning.

Harnai district deputy commissioner Sohail Anwar Hashmi also confirmed the death toll. He said the dead included six children.

The National Earthquake Observatory said the quake had a depth of 15 kilometers. The quake affected Quetta, CB, Pishin, Muslim Bagh, Ziarat, Qila Abdullah, Sanjavi, Jhob and Chaman.

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