15 killed as powerful aftershock hits Balochistan

The tremors were also felt in Kech, Khuzdar, Kalat and other towns of Balochistan. The aftershock was felt as far away as Naushero Feroz, Shikarpur, Karachi and Hyderabad in southern Sindh province.

Zahid Rafi, Director of the National Seismic Centre, said the epicentre of this quake was once again in Awaran. "But these were more like strong aftershocks and more can be expected," he said.

Tuesday's quake left over 50,000 people homeless in Balochistan. The affected areas were also rocked by a massive aftershock measuring 5 on the Richter scale yesterday.

According to an official preliminary damage assessment, Awaran has borne "partial damage" of 30 to 40percent. Two other districts, Mashkal and Malar, were said to be "badly hit" with 80 to 90percent damage.

A map showing the damage was uploaded on Twitter by chief military spokesman Maj Gen Asim Bajwa to give an idea about the extent of damage.

Meanwhile, rescue teams faced attacks by Baloch nationalist militants active in the quake-hit areas. An army helicopter carrying relief goods was fired at in Mashkay area of Awaran district by suspected militants yesterday. The helicopter was not damaged in the attack.

This was the second attack on an army helicopter in the area. On Thursday, two army generals, including the head of the National Disaster Management Authority, had a narrow escape when rockets were fired at their helicopter.

Security personnel accompanying a team of doctors for relief operations were fired at on Wednesday.

"It is highly condemnable that while the government along with armed forces and the entire nation continue with its efforts to provide life to their brethren in distress in quake affected areas, miscreants and terrorists in Balochistan continue to disrupt and cause hindrance in provision of relief goods," a Pakistani military official told PTI.

Though the army and Frontier Corps moved 1,000 troops to the worst-hit areas, it is feared that people may still be trapped under the debris of thousands of collapsed mud homes.

The areas near the epicentre area a stronghold of Baloch militants.