Moderate quake hits southwestern Pakistan

A moderate 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck mountainous southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The shallow quake, at a depth of just 10 kilometres (six miles), was centred 54 kilometres from Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province, the US Geological Survey said.

Local officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, which hit at 7:46 am (0246 GMT) and was felt in Quetta and the nearby city of Ziarad.

Pakistan's Seismological Centre put the magnitude of the latest quake at 5.0.

It struck close to the centre of the devastating 6.4-magnitude quake that hit Baluchistan in late October, killing about 300 people.

Thousands of survivors are still living in tents in the remote area, which has seen freezing temperatures and heavy rain in recent days.

Hundreds of aftershocks have hit the area since October.