QUETTA: A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted the provincial capital and several other cities and towns of northern Balochistan on Saturday morning.

No casualty or damage to property was reported from any area.

The tremor struck Quetta and other parts of Balochistan including Chaman, Qilla Abdullah, Pishin, Harnai, Shahrag, Machh, Sibi, Ziarat, Duki, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar and Nushki at 7.58am, forcing many to rush out for safety.

According to the Met Office, the quake’s epicentre was located 38km northeast of Quetta in the Khanozai area of Pishin district and its focal depth was determined as 10km.

The National Seismic Monitoring Centre said the quake with a longitude of 67.34 east and latitude of 30.35 north hit the province early in the morning.

According to reports, a 4.4 magnitude aftershock hit Khuzdar town at 6.30pm.

Reports said some mud houses in the areas were damaged after the tremor jolted the town in the evening.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2020