Tens of houses collapse, hundreds displaced as earthquake hits southwest Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: More than 80 houses collapsed and around 200 families were rendered homeless after an earthquake struck southwest Pakistan late Friday, local media reported.
The 5.2-magnitude quake hit Aurnaji area in Khuzdar district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province at 11:55am, according to the meteorological office. Its epicenter was located close by. 
Tremors, felt for around 30 seconds, forced people to rush out of their homes to safety, the Dawn news website reported, citing local officials. After the earthquake, the area kept receiving aftershocks at brief intervals. 
“A vast area of Aurnaji was affected by the earthquake that demolished over 80 houses while big cracks appeared in 260 other houses,” the report quoted Khuzdar deputy commissioner Ilyas Kibzai as saying. 
Most of the destroyed houses were made of mud, according to the official. The quake affected Nali, Zamri, Barang and Nachkan Sonaro Lathi villages in Wadh tehsil as well. 
“Fortunately, no human loss was reported as most people were busy in their routine work outside their homes, while those who were inside left their houses as soon as the jolts began,” DC Kibzai said. 
He said that over 200 families were rendered homeless after their houses were destroyed. Soon after receiving information about the earthquake, he said, relief goods, including tents, sheets, edibles and drinking water, were dispatched for the earthquake-affectees. 
The official, however, said that rescue and relief teams were facing difficulties in reaching the affected villages as they were located in hilly areas.