At Least Nine Dead As 6.5 Magnitude Quake Jolts Cities Across Pakistan

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2023-03-22T13:34:22+05:00 News Desk
At least nine people died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and more than 40 sustained injuries as a 6.5-magnitude quake jolted several cities of the country, on Tuesday.

Besides the federal capital, tremors were felt in Peshawar, Skardu, Lahore, Charsadda, Multan, Rawalpindi and other parts of Pakistan.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the quake had a 180-kilometre depth with its epicentre in the Hindu Kush region.

The International Seismological Centre said tremors were also felt in Turkmenistan, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Also, US Geological Survey said the quake rocked Afghanistan and parts of India too, and marked its epicentre at 40 kilometres south-southeast of the Afghan town of Jurm.

https://twitter.com/pmdgov/status/1638225471396798465

Panicked people came out of there houses after the buildings were shaken by the massive tremors. The eyewitnesses said the tremors lasted for 30 seconds. Here are some of the videos posted online:

https://twitter.com/Qaiser_Abas/status/1638236604207710208

https://twitter.com/AlySyyed/status/1638237552946585600

https://twitter.com/sa02503263/status/1638239840813629440

https://twitter.com/AshuMir6/status/1638239425472925701

https://twitter.com/IftikharFirdous/status/1638241022567129088

All of the deaths were reported from KP, specifically from Swabi, Buner, Lower Dir, Mardan, and Chitral.

A Rescue 1122 KP spokesperson said that in Swat, most people required medical aid due to fear, trauma, and blood pressure issues. In all other areas, injuries were caused by wall or roof collapse.

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He added that the Rescue 1122 deployed paramedics to the hospitals in the district to cater to the staff reinforcement needs.

'Be ready for an emergency'

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other departments concerned to be ready to deal with any emergency.

The premier sent out his wishes for wellbeing of the people around the country, and prayed for them to be safe from every calamity.

Hospitals on alert

The hospitals in Islamabad have been put on high alert in Islamabad on the directives of Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel.

The minister also directed the administration of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic to ensure all necessary steps to provide prompt treatment to any persons injured in the quake.
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