5.9 magnitude earthquake shakes Balochistan province, killing at least 15

“We went outside and at the same time took our children outside. Thank God, everyone in our house is safe. However, the roof and walls of the house were badly damaged,” he said.

“Almost all the shops have collapsed and on every street in the villages … one or two people have died and many of the injured are children.”

Muhammad Ali, a resident of Harna, said a room in his house collapsed and his daughter died. Other rooms were badly damaged and cracks appeared in the walls, he said.

“When the quake struck last night, many people ran out of their homes. We also ran out, but one of my daughters died and the other two women were abandoned,” he said.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his condolences to the victims of the quake.

“I have ordered immediate relief for those affected by the earthquake in Hernai, Balochistan and immediate assessment of the damage for immediate relief and compensation. My condolences and prayers go out to the families who lost their loved ones,” he wrote.

Hornai District Commissioner Sohail Afridi said rescue operations were ongoing.

“The rescue operation has been going on since 3 am. The injured were airlifted to the hospital by helicopter,” Afridi said, adding that the situation was now under control.

The rural location of Hernai makes it difficult to access, the welfare organization Ethi Foundation told CNN.