Earthquake in southern Pakistan kills 24, hundreds injured

A shallow earthquake in southern Pakistan in early hours of Thursday killed 24 people and seriously injured about  300. Magnitude of the earthquake was 5.7. The death toll is feared to rise.

Many of the victims died when roofs and walls collapsed. Health workers treated the injured with the help of torches after electricity failed.

women and children were among the dead, Suhail Anwar Hashmi, a senior provincial government official, told AFP.

The remote mountainous city of Harnai in Balochistan was the worst hit.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter hours after the tragedy.

"I have ordered immediate assistance on an emergency basis for the Harnai, Balochistan, earthquake victims & for an immediate assessment of the damage for timely relief & compensation. My condolences & prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones.," he tweeted.

A military helicopter was used to transport critically injured to hospital.

The quake caused electricity to fail in the region, with health staff working without lights in a poorly equipped government hospital.

"We were operating without electricity with the help of torches and mobile flashlights," Zahoor Tarin, a senior official at the government-run Harnai hospital told AFP. 

"Most of the injured came with fractured limbs. Dozens of people were sent back after first aid while some 40 people who were critically injured have been sent to Quetta in ambulances," he added.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.7 and struck around 3am at a depth of around 20 kilometres (12 miles). 

The earthquake was also felt in Balochistan's provincial capital Quetta.

Pakistan straddles the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making the country susceptible to earthquakes.

(With inputs from agencies)