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A strong quake 50 miles underground was felt as far afield as Delhi and Dubai
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 has shaken southwestern Pakistan, jolting cities as far apart as Delhi and Dubai, although the epicentre was far from major population centres.
The US Geological Survey said the quake was more than 50 miles (80 km) underground, close to the town of Dalbandin in Baluchistan province, near the Afghan and Iranian frontiers.
Poor communications meant there were no immediate reports from the vicinity of the quake, but despite the major strength of the shock, the great depth may have limited any damage.
In the major Pakistani port of Karachi, 250 miles (400 km) away, people woke and rushed out of their homes after the tremors hit at 01:23 (20:23 GMT on Tuesday). The authorities there had no immediate reports of casualties or wreckage.
In an ominous indication of problems for the small towns and villages of Baluchistan, however, people in India's border province of Rajasthan said cracks appeared in the walls of rural dwellings. The basic building styles common in the area closest to the quake may fare badly under the strains of major tremors.
A major quake of this magnitude, if at a shallow depth and close to cities, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage.
Pakistan is still reeling from devastating floods last year that left more than 10 million people homeless.
In 2005, a 7.6 magnitude quake 60 miles (95km) northeast of Islamabad killed over 70,000 people.
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