NORTH WAZIRISTAN: The earthquake that jolted the region in the early hours of Wednesday also claimed the life of at least 30 Pak­istani tribesmen, displaced from North Waziristan during a security operation, a footballer, and a soldier as it damaged a house in Lakki Marwat and a check-post in the Datakhel area.

Sources said the 30 victims belonged to the Mada­khel tribe and were among the displaced persons who had shifted across the border to Afghanistan while Ope­­ration Zarb-i-Azb was underway in North Waziristan.

Read more: Deadly quake spells disaster for 'isolated' Afghanistan

They said the bodies of the 30 tribesmen would be shifted to their native areas after the Pakistani authorities temporarily opened the Pak-Afghan border at Alwar Mandi.

Besides, arrangements have also been made at the Ghulam Khan border for the transportation of the injured who, according to military sources in Miram­shah, would be airlifted to special medical camps being set up in the area.

Officials told Dawn that besides shifting the bodies and helping with the treatment of injured, ration was also being provided to quake-hit people.

Separately, the tremor also resulted in the collapse of a check-post in the Data­khel tehsil, claiming the life of one soldier and leaving at least two others injured.

Also, officials said, a local footballer, Kashif Alam, died when the roof of his house in the Pezu area of Lakki Marwat district collapsed, burying him under the debris.

According to KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, beds have been reser­ved at Shoulam and Toiko­ala hospitals in South Waziristan and District Headquarters Hospital in Miramshah for the treatment of the injured, while orthopedic, general surgeons and medical staff were also deputed at those facilities, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2022