DHAKA: A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck the Dalbandin area in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday.

The US Geological Survey said, reports dawn.com.

Balochistan provincial home secretary Asad Gilani confirmed the death of one person and eight injured in Awaran district of Balochistan.

‘Some houses have been damaged in Awaran and Chaghai areas of Balochistan,’ Latif Kakar, Director Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said.

Pakistan’s meteorological office gave the magnitude as 7.7 and said the epicentre of the quake was located near Kharan area of Balochistan province.

Mohammad Hanif, an official at the meteorological department, said the intensity of the tremors was measured in different areas of Pakistan between 7 to 8 on the Ricther Scale.

Hanif said that aftershocks may still be felt in different areas of the country.

According to television reports, the aftershocks were felt across Balochistan including Quetta, the provincial capital.

The earthquake was also felt in the adjoining province of Sindh, including cities of Karachi, Jacobabad, Khairpur, and Nowshero Feroz.

Minor tremors were felt as far away as the Indian capital city of New Delhi, while office workers in the city of Ahmedabad near the border with Pakistan ran out of buildings and into the street.

According to the Times of India, strong tremors shook tall buildings in New Delhi, sending people running out into the streets.

BDST: 1923 HRS, SEPT 24, 2013
RoR/RK