At least 20 people were killed and more than 200 injured after the earthquake in Pakistan.
The 5.9 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was about 12 miles deep and was centered 8 miles northeast of Harnai in Balochistan province.
It was around 3:20 p.m. Thursday when most people were asleep.
According to The News of Pakistan, people rushed out of their homes to recite verses from the Quran when the earth shook.
Aftershocks are still being felt.
The provincial disaster management body reportedly said most of the dead were children.
At least four other victims died in the collapse of the coal mine.
Rescuers are using heavy equipment to search for survivors, but the death toll is expected to rise.
More than 100 clay houses were destroyed and other property damaged, including government buildings.
Sohail Anwar, deputy commissioner of the town of Harnai, 100 km from Quetta City, told Reuters that hundreds of people were homeless.
Some houses were buried in the rubble and electricity in the area was cut off.
The earthquake occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning when most people were sleeping. Photo: AP
Quetta was the site of one of South Asia’s most dangerous earthquakes – in 1935, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake killed 30,000 to 60,000 people.
“Total travelaholic. Subtly charming zombie geek. Friend of animals everywhere. Music buff. Explorer. Tv junkie.”
