Major Earthquake Rocks Pakistan, Causes 'Island' to Form

Image: USGS

Major Earthquake Rocks Pakistan, Causes 'Island' to Form

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the Baluchistan province of Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 45 people, according to media reports.

Reuters reports that

The earthquake was so powerful that it caused the seabed to rise and create a small, mountain-like island about 600 meters (yards) off Pakistan's Gwadar coastline in the Arabian Sea.

Dozens of houses collapsed in Awaran, about 42 miles north of the quake's epicenter, and shocks were felt as far away as Karachi and New Delhi.

Muhammad Riaz, a senior Pakistan meteorologist, told reporters that "heavy destruction" was likely.

The death toll is likely to climb. The U.S. Geological Survey issued a red alert level for fatalities after the earthquake, writing that "High casualties are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response."

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