Monday, October 10 2005 12:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Over 140 aftershocks have rocked Pakistan since a powerful earthquake left thousands of people dead and flattened entire villages, seismic experts said here yesterday (Oct 09, 2005).

Pakistan's seismic and weather experts recorded over 140 aftershocks, with 21 over 5 magnitude on the Richter scale, since yesterday's massive quake which killed over 18,000 people and injured around 42,000.

The recurring tremors, some of them lasting few seconds, triggered panic in some areas.

A large contingent of mediapersons waiting for Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao's briefing ran out in panic as a tremor violently shook the Information Ministry's building.

Minutes later another tremor rocked the building as the Minister addressed the press.

"The first 48 hours after are the most critical, but their frequency continues to decline gradually," Chief Meteorologist Anjum Bari Farooqi told reporters here.

He said damaged structures in around 30 kms from the epicenter, particularly in Mansehra, Balakot and Muzaffarabad and adjoining areas may collapse if there are aftershocks of over 5 magnitude.

Bari said the aftershocks may continue for some time after the initial quake till the seismic activity subsides completely.

The pattern of aftershocks showed that the epicenter was gradually shifting towards north, as the epicenter was now 110 kms north of Islamabad.

Three strong tremors were felt today measuring up to 5.9 on the Richter scale.