Magnitude-5.3 Earthquake Strikes Balochistan, Minor Injuries Reported

Balochistan – June 29: A magnitude-5.3 earthquake jolted parts of Balochistan early Sunday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor struck at approximately 3:30 a.m. with its epicentre located about 60 kilometres north-northeast of Barkhan city.

The shallow quake caused tremors across vast areas including Rara Shaim and Kingri, senior levies officer Tuqeer Shah confirmed to Dawn.com. While there were no immediate reports of fatalities, initial assessments indicate that at least three people, including a couple, were injured in Rara Shaim after the roof of their house collapsed. The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Shah further noted that more than half a dozen houses have sustained damage, and several others have developed cracks. Rescue teams have been dispatched to assess the full extent of the damage in the affected areas.

Pakistan lies on a seismically active zone where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge, making it highly prone to earthquakes. The country has experienced several devastating quakes in recent decades, including the 2005 Kashmir earthquake that killed over 73,000 people, and a 2021 tremor in Balochistan’s Harnai district that left at least 20 dead.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as aftershocks remain a possibility.

(Monitoring Desk)