Karachi, Wednesday 29 Oct 2008: At least 100 people were killed and scores of others injured when a powerful earthquake rocked parts of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Wednesday, officials said.

The US geological survey said a 6.2 magnitude quake hit 70km (45 miles) northeast of the city of Quetta before dawn.

The quake hit around 70 kilometres northeast of provincial capital of Quetta and 185 kilometres southeast of the Afghan city of Kandahar, the US Geological Survey said. The jerks were felt in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Mastung, Sibi, Bolan, Kuchlak and Loralai areas.

The Pakistan meteorological department put the magnitude at 6.1 and said the quake struck at 5.10am (2310 GMT).

Officials said about 40 people had been injured, most when mud walls collapsed or in the panic when people rushed from their homes.