7.2 magnitude earthquake jolts Pakistan

People pray in the streets of Neelum Colony, Karachi, following the earthquake tremors. PHOTO: Nefer Sehgal
KARACHI: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck southwestern Pakistan, the US Geological Survey reported early Wednesday morning.

The US agency revised an initial estimate that the quake was very shallow ranging at 7.4, and said it probably centred at a depth of 52 miles (83 km), 55 km (34 miles) west of Dalbandin, a town of about 15,000 people.

First reports from the region, close to the frontier with Afghanistan, suggested injuries may have been limited, not least given the sparseness of the population.

The earthquake hit Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Jaffarabad, while tremors were felt in Lahore and Sargodha.

Residents in major cities as far apart as the Indian capital New Delhi and the Gulf emirate of Dubai said they felt tremors, as did people in Karachi, although there were no early reports there of damage or injuries.

The Pacific Tsunami Center said the onshore quake had not triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

A major quake of this magnitude is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage.

The distance of the epicentre to known locations is:

55 km (34 miles) W (271°) from Dalbandin, Pakistan
263 km (164 miles) W (269°) from Kalat, Pakistan
301 km (187 miles) ESE (102°) from Zahedan, Iran
793 km (493 miles) NE (41°) from MUSCAT, Oman
On October 8, 2005, a 7.6 magnitude quake 95 km northeast of Islamabad killed over 70,000 people.

A major quake of this magnitude, if at a shallow depth and close to population centres, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage and could pose fresh strains on Pakistan following the devastating floods last year which left more than 10 million people homeless.

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7.2 Earthquake Strikes Southwestern Pakistan; International Medical Corps Assessing Damage and Preparing for Possible Emergency Response to the Region19 Jan 2011

Source: member // International Medical Corps


January 18, 2011, Los Angeles, Calif. – International Medical Corps is assessing the damage and humanitarian needs as a result of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Pakistan at 1:23 AM local time on Wednesday. While the area is reported to be sparsely populated, International Medical Corps’ global and regional Emergency Response Teams are on standby, preparing to respond as needed.

The earthquake struck some 34 miles west of Dalbandin and was reportedly felt as far as 1,000 miles away in Delhi, India. In 2005, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck northwestern Pakistan, killing 73,000 people.

With a humanitarian presence in Pakistan for 25 years, International Medical Corps was one of the first responders to the Kashmir earthquake in 2005 as well as the devastating floods that hit Pakistan this year, affecting approximately 20 million people. International Medical Corps continues to support those displaced by the floods with psychosocial services and 102 medical teams that deliver care up to 200 patients a day.

International Medical Corps has worked in Pakistan since 1984, when it provided paramedical training to Afghan refugees. Today, International Medical Corps provides health care services and water and sanitation facilities to internally displaced Pakistanis as well as Afghan refugees and operates an emergency obstetrics care center in Peshawar.

Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit our website at www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org.
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By Chris Albritton Chris Albritton – Tue Jan 18, 5:41 pm ET
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook southwestern Pakistan early on Wednesday, jolting residents of cities as far apart as Delhi and Dubai, but the epicenter was far from major population centers.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was more than 80 km (50 miles) underground, close to the town of Dalbandin in Baluchistan province, near the Afghan and Iranian frontiers.

Poor communications ensured there were few immediate reports from the vicinity of the quake, but despite the major strength of the shock, the great depth may have limited damage. The USGS had first said that the earthquake was very much shallower.

The USGS said the epicenter was 55 km (34 miles) west of Dalbandin, a town of about 15,000 people, and at a depth of 83 km (52 miles).

In Dalbandin, several people were injured when the roofs of their houses collapsed, provincial Transport Minister Amanullah Notizai told Reuters, but so far there were no reports of fatalities in the quake which hit at 1:23 a.m. (2023 GMT on Tuesday).

People in India's border province of Rajasthan said cracks appeared in the walls of rural dwellings.

U.S. forces across the border in Afghanistan were unaffected by the quake, according to preliminary reports from the U.S. military.

As dawn breaks and officials reach the affected area, more damage and fatalities may be revealed in an area where traditional simple structures may have fared badly under the strains of the powerful tremor.

PEOPLE FLEE THEIR HOUSES

In Quetta, the largest city in Baluchistan and 331 km (205.7 miles) northeast of the epicenter, a woman died at a city hospital from a heart attack following the quake, hospital officials said.

And in the major Pakistani port of Karachi, 400 km (250 miles) away, people woke and rushed from their homes after the tremors. An official at Edhi Foundation, the biggest private ambulance and rescue service in Karachi, said there were no reports of any damage.

"I was sleeping when the quake struck and I felt like my bed was shaking. I got up and ran to check the children...and thankfully they were all okay," said Masooma Rizvi, a housewife. "It was very scary. I have never felt anything like this before."

The Pacific Tsunami Center said the onshore quake had not triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

A major quake of this magnitude, if at a shallow depth and close to population centers, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. Pakistan is still reeling from devastating floods last year that left more than 10 million people homeless.

In 2005, a 7.6 magnitude quake 95 km (60 miles) northeast of the Pakistani capital Islamabad killed over 70,000 people.

(Additional reporting by Faisal Aziz in Karachi, Augustine Anthony in Islamabad, C.J. Kuncheria in New Delhi and Sandra Maler in Washington; editing by Diana Abdallah)

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An earthquake of 7.4 magnitudes hit the country on Wednesday at 1:28am. The shocks of earthquake were also felt in India, Afghanistan and UAE.
The jolts were felt in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Nowshera, Gilgit, Sawat, Muzzafarabad, Naseer Abad, Peshawar and other areas of the country. The earthquake lasted for around 1second to 60 seconds in different parts of the country.
According to the US Geological Survey, the intensity of the quake was 7.3 and its epicenter was around 50 kilometres west of the town of Dalbandin, close to the border with Afghanistan.
According to Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz after shocks can be felt in coming days.
Two women died one in Quetta hospital from a heart attack following the quake but no major damage to property has been reported. People, harassed by the sudden shocks of earth quake, came out of their houses and started to recite verses of Holy Quran. The country witnessed one of the world’s worst earthquakes back in 2005 and people still cannot get out of the horrors of that quake.


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UPDATE 4-Big quake shakes Pakistan; no casualties, minor damage
19 Jan 2011

Source: reuters // Reuters


* Quake of 7.2 magnitude ranks as "major"

* Authorities say no reports of casualties

* Depth of quake apparently limited damage (Updates with comment from authorities, changes byline, dateline)

By Saeed Ali Achakzai

QUETTA, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook southwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, jolting residents of cities as far apart as New Delhi and Dubai, but doing little damage in the sparsely populated region.
The quake was more than 80 km (50 miles) underground, close to the town of Dalbandin in Baluchistan province, near the Afghan and Iranian frontiers, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Akbar Durrani, interior secretary of Baluchistan province, said there were no reports of casualties.

"There has been partial damage to house in villages near Dalbandin but there were no casualties," he told Reuters.

Naeem Shah, head of Dalbandin police, said he had no reports of any injuries or deaths.

"There were no human losses," Shah said. "The walls of a few houses and offices collapsed but there are no reports of any casualties."

The USGS said the epicentre of the quake, which struck at 1:23 a.m. (2023 GMT on Tuesday), was 55 km (34 miles) west of Dalbandin, a town of about 15,000 people, and at a depth of 83 km (52 miles).

Poor communications delayed reports from the remote area but despite the strength of the shock, its depth seems to have limited damage. The USGS had first said the earthquake was much shallower.

People in India's northwestern border state of Rajasthan said cracks appeared in the walls of rural dwellings.

U.S. forces in Afghanistan were unaffected by the quake, according to preliminary reports from the U.S. military.

PEOPLE FLEE THEIR HOUSES

In Quetta, the capital and largest city in Baluchistan, 330 km (205 miles) northeast of the epicentre, a woman died at a hospital from a heart attack following the quake, hospital officials said.

In the major Pakistani port of Karachi, 400 km (250 miles) away, people rushed from their homes as the quake hit.

"I felt like my bed was shaking. I got up and ran to check the children," said Masooma Rizvi. "It was very scary. I have never felt anything like this before."

The Pacific Tsunami Center said the quake had not triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

A major quake of this magnitude, if at a shallow depth and close to population centres, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. Pakistan is still reeling from devastating floods last year that left more than 10 million people homeless.

At least 160 people were killed when a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Baluchistan, about 60 km (37.3 miles) north of Quetta, in October 2008.

In 2005, a 7.6 magnitude quake 95 km (60 miles) northeast of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad killed more than 70,000 people.

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1935 hit Quetta, killing between 30,000 and 60,000 people, making it one of the deadliest quakes to hit South Asia in recorded history. (Additional reporting by Faisal Aziz in Karachi, Augustine Anthony in Islamabad, C.J. Kuncheria in New Delhi and Sandra Maler in Washington; Editing by Chris Allbritton) (For more Reuters coverage of Pakistan, see: http://www.reuters.com/places/pakistan) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)


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Big quake shakes Pakistan; no casualties, minor damage
19 Jan 2011

Source: reuters // Reuters


* Quake of 7.2 magnitude ranks as "major"

* Authorities say no reports of casualties

* Depth of quake apparently limited damage (Updates with comment from authorities, changes byline, dateline)

By Saeed Ali Achakzai

QUETTA, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 shook southwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, jolting residents of cities as far apart as New Delhi and Dubai, but doing little damage in the sparsely populated region.

The quake was more than 80 km (50 miles) underground, close to the town of Dalbandin in Baluchistan province, near the Afghan and Iranian frontiers, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Akbar Durrani, interior secretary of Baluchistan province, said there were no reports of casualties.

"There has been partial damage to house in villages near Dalbandin but there were no casualties," he told Reuters.

Naeem Shah, head of Dalbandin police, said he had no reports of any injuries or deaths.

"There were no human losses," Shah said. "The walls of a few houses and offices collapsed but there are no reports of any casualties."

The USGS said the epicentre of the quake, which struck at 1:23 a.m. (2023 GMT on Tuesday), was 55 km (34 miles) west of Dalbandin, a town of about 15,000 people, and at a depth of 83 km (52 miles).

Poor communications delayed reports from the remote area but despite the strength of the shock, its depth seems to have limited damage. The USGS had first said the earthquake was much shallower.

People in India's northwestern border state of Rajasthan said cracks appeared in the walls of rural dwellings.

U.S. forces in Afghanistan were unaffected by the quake, according to preliminary reports from the U.S. military.

PEOPLE FLEE THEIR HOUSES

In Quetta, the capital and largest city in Baluchistan, 330 km (205 miles) northeast of the epicentre, a woman died at a hospital from a heart attack following the quake, hospital officials said.

In the major Pakistani port of Karachi, 400 km (250 miles) away, people rushed from their homes as the quake hit.

"I felt like my bed was shaking. I got up and ran to check the children," said Masooma Rizvi. "It was very scary. I have never felt anything like this before."

The Pacific Tsunami Center said the quake had not triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

A major quake of this magnitude, if at a shallow depth and close to population centres, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. Pakistan is still reeling from devastating floods last year that left more than 10 million people homeless.

At least 160 people were killed when a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Baluchistan, about 60 km (37.3 miles) north of Quetta, in October 2008.

In 2005, a 7.6 magnitude quake 95 km (60 miles) northeast of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad killed more than 70,000 people.

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1935 hit Quetta, killing between 30,000 and 60,000 people, making it one of the deadliest quakes to hit South Asia in recorded history. (Additional reporting by Faisal Aziz in Karachi, Augustine Anthony in Islamabad, C.J. Kuncheria in New Delhi and Sandra Maler in Washington; Editing by Chris Allbritton) (For more Reuters coverage of Pakistan, see: http://www.reuters.com/places/pakistan) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)