27 Sep 2013

Struggle to reach quake survivors

8:56 am on 27 September 2013

Rescuers in south-west Pakistan are continuing to search for survivors of the earthquake which killed at least 340 people.

The 7.7 magnitude quake struck on Tuesday afternoon local time at a depth of 20km and was centred north-east of Awaran.

More than 300,000 people are affected over six districts, with many houses flattened and survivors spending nights in the open or in makeshift shelters built with sticks and bed sheets.

A BBC correspondent in Quetta says people are still digging amidst the rubble for survivors, while others are trying to salvage their possessions.

Rescuers have been struggling to reach the remote areas hit by the earthquake and officials say there is a lack of doctors and medical supplies, the BBC reports.

The official death toll now stands at 348 and hundreds more have been injured.