CHAGAI: Some mud houses collapsed and some others were damaged in the Sajid and Zayyak areas of Basima town after a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit it on Thursday morning.

Official sources said the area was again jolted when a 4.9 magnitude aftershock hit it. However, no casualty was reported from the town.

According to a report by the National Disaster Management Authority, the quake struck at a depth of 40km with its epicentre located 68km northwest of Khuzdar.

Washuk deputy commissioner Nisar Ahmed told Dawn that at around 3.40am an earthquake struck different areas of Basima. The severity of the earthquake was quite high in Sajid and Zayyak areas.

He said a majority of houses in these areas were badly damaged and some collapsed.

A survey to assess the damage caused by the jolts was under way, the deputy commissioner said, adding that health teams were present in the affected areas of Basima for emergency services.

Basima’s Assistant Commissioner Zakir Baloch said the road to Sajid had been blocked by heavy stones which were removed by personnel of Levies Force and it was now open for traffic. “I personally visited Sajid area along with Levies Force’s personnel to assess damages and losses,” Mr Baloch said, adding that relief items, including tents, had been sent to affected areas by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2020