Strong quake jolts southwest Pakistan

01-19-2011 13:54 BJT

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A powerful 7.3 magnitude quake has jolted southwest Pakistan's province of Baluchistan. The tremor, hitting in the early hours of Wednesday morning, was felt as far away as New Delhi and Dubai.

Authorities say that the quake's epicenter hit in a remote part of the country, and that damage and casualties have been minimal.

People across Karachi were awoken by the sound of mother nature.

The quake struck more than 80 kilometers underground, close the town of Dalbandin, near the Afghan and Iranian frontiers.

No word has come out on the extent of the damage in this area home to 15-thousand people.

But nearby in Mashkil, a local police officer said several mud houses collapsed or were damaged.

A quake of this magnitude would normally cause significant destruction, but fortunately, it struck in Pakistan's most remote province.

But people Karachi are still on edge.

Karachi Resident, said, "People from all over cannot make sense as to what they should do or not do"

Many huddled outside on the streets in the cold winter night, too afraid to go back indoors.

Karachi Resident, said, "I was awake at this point at 1.30am, my bed shook and the windows rattled, this is what I felt. I woke my family after that."

The powerful tremor was felt as far away as India and the UAE, but the Pacific Tsunami Center said the onshore quake had not triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

Already reeling from the worst flooding on record that has left more than 10 million people homeless, Pakistanis know all too well the wrath of mother nature.

Back in 2005, a 7.6 magnitude quake killed more than 70-thousand people.

But this time around, Pakistan seems to have dodged a disaster.