QUETTA, Pakistan, Sept 24 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake hit western Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least six people and destroying mud houses in a thinly populated area of the South Asian country, officials and residents said.
Tremors were felt as far away as the Indian capital of New Delhi, hundreds of miles to the east, where buildings shook, as well as the sprawling port city of Karachi in Pakistan.
The United States Geological Survey said that a 7.8 magnitude quake struck 145 miles southeast of Dalbandin in Pakistan's western province of Baluchistan.
In the Baluch regional capital of Quetta, officials said some areas appeared to be badly damaged.
Baluch chief secretary Babar Yaqoob said six people died in the quake in the Awaran district, adding that 25 were injured and the death toll was expected to increase. A rescue operation had begun.
The epicentre was in a remote, mountainous area of Baluchistan with no major industrial installations.
"We are trying to assess the damage," said Baluch Home Secretary Asad Gilani.
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