A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Musakhel district and nearby areas in Balochistan early Saturday morning, injuring at least five people. According to the Seismological Center in Islamabad, the earthquake occurred at 3:24 AM at a depth of 28 kilometers. The epicenter was located 56 kilometers northeast of Musakhel.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that the quake caused two houses to collapse completely and partially damaged five others. Local officials confirmed that four people were initially reported injured, but the Deputy Commissioner later confirmed five injuries, including two in critical condition.
Authorities say the tremors lasted nearly 30 seconds and were strong enough to frighten residents. A boundary wall of a local government high school also collapsed. PDMA teams contacted control rooms soon after the tremors and began collecting damage reports from the affected areas.
The Deputy Commissioner of Musakhel, Bilal Shabbir, stated that hundreds of houses suffered minor to moderate damage. A survey has begun to estimate the full scale of the destruction. Emergency response teams have been alerted, and medical help is being provided to the injured.
Tremors were also felt in nearby districts, including Barkhan, adding to concerns of possible aftershocks. Authorities are urging residents to stay cautious and report any structural damage. Relief efforts are underway as the region assesses the quake’s full impact.