The death toll due to powerful 7.8 earthquake in Balochistan has risen to 275, with hundreds more injured.
According to provincial government spokesperson Jan Buledi, 228 people died in Awaran and 43 lost their lives in Kech (Turbat).
He said Kech area of Hoshab was badly affected and relief items were already sent there from Turbat.
Jan Buledi further said that 12 Edhi Ambulances had already arrived in Awaran.
He said that despite difficult terrain‚ rescue efforts are underway in the tremor hit area. Medical teams are working in the area.
He said relief activities are going on in the area for the quake victims and the people injured critically are being shifted to Karachi.
He said the quake had drastically affected roads and other means of communications creating difficulties for rescue teams to reach every tremor hit district.
He said provincial governments of Punjab, KPK and Sindh, and Iran and Turkey had offered assistance for quake hit victims.
Pakistan army and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel are also helping in relief efforts in these areas.
Army troops are being airlifted from Khuzdar and Quetta to reinforce rescue effort in Awaran.
Almost one thousand have already moved last night and this morning from Karachi‚ Khuzdar and Quetta for rescue effort.
A contingent of army comprising sixty vehicles and six hundred troops has been dispatched to quake hit areas of Balochistan for rescue operation.
A field hospital along with doctors and necessary paramedical staff has also been sent to Balochistan to help quake victims.
Meanwhile‚ Sindh government has dispatched 2 trucks carrying medicines while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab governments have offered all kind of assistance for quake-hit people of Balochistan.
Pakistan Navy has also dispatched a contingent along with relief goods to the quake hit Awaran district.
A spokesperson of Pakistan Navy said a medical camp has also been established in Gwadar for the quake victims.
In these times of challenges we stand shoulder to shoulder with our Pakistani brothers. We echo Ambassador Richard C. Olson’s statement, who said, “We extend condolences to the families who lost loved ones during the earthquake in western Pakistan. Our thoughts are with the injured and those who have lost so much in this tragedy. We are closely monitoring the situation. The United States stands ready to assist the people of Pakistan.”
Abdul Quddus
DET-United States Central Command
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