Death toll in Pak quake likely to rise

The death toll in the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province is likely to rise further as rescuers race against time to frantically search for survivors despite attacks from nationalist militants.
While the official death count stands at 515, unofficial figures are much higher. Rescue teams are still to reach several remote areas, including the worst-hit Balochistan's Awaran district near the epicentre of Tuesday's 7.7-magnitude temblor.
However, according to an official preliminary damage assessment, Awaran has borne just "partial damage" of 30 to 40 percent. Two other districts - Mashkal and Malar - were said to be "badly hit" with 80 to 90 per cent damage.

A map showing the damages was uploaded by ISPR chief Maj Gen Asim Bajwa last night via twitter to "just to give an idea about the extent of damage".
"The death toll in the earthquake now stands at 515," Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob said in Awaran, which recorded most of the deaths. Over 700 people have also been injured in the disaster, officials said.
The quake-hit area was yesterday rocked by a massive aftershock measuring 5 on the Richter scale. Pakistan's met office said the epicentre of the aftershock was in Ormara and its depth was around 10 km.

Moreover, an army helicopter carrying relief goods to the quake-hit areas 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. Yesterday, 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.
Though the army and Frontier Corps have moved 1,000 troops in the worst-hit areas, it is feared that people may still be trapped under the debris of thousands of collapsed mud homes.

The area near the epicentre is a stronghold of Baloch nationalist militants.