15 killed as powerful aftershock jolts Pak region

At least 15 people were killed when a powerful 7.2-magnitude aftershock Saturday struck areas of southwest Pakistan devastated by a massive earthquake that claimed over 500 lives earlier this week.

Pakistans met office said the aftershock measured 7.2 on the Richter scale. However,the US Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.8 and said the epicentre was located 96 km northeast of Awaran district in Balochistan province.

Eight persons were killed in Nok Jo,a small village in Awaran. Four more deaths were reported from Mashkay area,officials said.

The latest deaths bring the toll from the temblors to about 550. A session of Balochistan provincial assembly was underway when the the aftershock struck. Footage showed ministers and lawmakers walking out as the session was hurriedly suspended.