QUETTA, A moderate earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale struck Musakhail, a remote mountainous district in Balochistan near the Punjab border, in the early hours of Sunday, injuring five people and damaging dozens of homes.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the first tremor was recorded at 3:24 am at a depth of 28 kilometers, followed by a second tremor of 4.8 magnitude at 7:30 am. The epicenter was located approximately 60 kilometers northeast of Barkhan. The quake jolted Musakhail, Rarashram, Kingri, and nearby regions, with aftershocks causing panic among residents.
Local administration officials reported that two houses were completely destroyed, and over 100 mud houses suffered partial damage. The boundary wall of a government high school also collapsed. The area’s weak infrastructure made the impact more severe, displacing many families who were moved to safer areas.
Among the injured was a married couple seriously hurt when their roof collapsed. All five injured, including a woman, were transported to a nearby rural health center, and two critical cases were referred to District Hospital Loralai.
Deputy Commissioner Musakhail Bilal Shabbir confirmed the injuries and said that rescue and relief operations began immediately. Emergency services, including Levies and PDMA teams, were mobilized swiftly, and a district control room was activated.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said initial relief efforts had started in Tehsil Kingri, and a comprehensive damage report would be shared soon.
Tremors were also felt in parts of Barkhan district, raising fears of further seismic activity. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks remain likely.
The region’s vulnerability to earthquakes and limited access to emergency services remain pressing concerns for disaster preparedness in rural Balochistan.
