Moderate earthquake hits Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A moderate 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck mountainous southwestern Pakistan today, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The shallow quake, at a depth of just 10 kilometres, was centred 46 kilometres from Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake, which followed a 5.2-magnitude tremor yesterday, struck at 3:52 am local time, close to the centre of the devastating 6.4-magnitude quake that hit Baluchistan in late October, killing about 300 people.

Thousands of survivors are still living in tents in the remote area, which has seen freezing temperatures and heavy rain in recent days.

Hundreds of aftershocks have hit the area since October.