Two Earthquakes Injure Three in Balochistan’s Barkhan Region]
QUETTA: At least three people sustained injuries after two earthquakes measuring 5.2 and 4.3 on the Richter scale struck several areas of Balochistan, including Barkhan district, officials confirmed on Saturday.
The 5.2-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 19 km, with its epicenter located 52 km northeast of Barkhan, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the tremor at 5.4 magnitude with a depth of 10 km, striking the region at 8:06 am.
Additional affected areas included Rakhni, Kohlu, and Musakhail. A subsequent 4.3-magnitude earthquake hit the same region, with its epicenter positioned identically and a depth of 42 km, as reported by NSMC. USGS data indicated this tremor occurred at 5:45 am with a depth of 10 km.
Injuries were reported when a shop roof collapsed in Musakhail district, affecting two laborers. Another individual sustained wounds when his residential structure gave way northwest of Musakhail’s Kingri area.
Emergency response teams from PDMA and local administration deployed immediately, launching rescue operations in the affected zones. Initial assessments revealed wall cracks in mud-built houses, prompting numerous residents to evacuate and establish temporary tent camps.
This incident follows Friday’s 5.1-magnitude earthquake in the same region, as reported by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). That tremor’s epicenter was situated 60 km northeast of Kohlu, affecting Zhob, Barkhan, and Rakhni areas.
Separately, Monday’s 5.4-magnitude earthquake impacted parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad.
