Islamabad: Pakistan said Wednesday it does not intend to seek international help following the deadly earthquake that hit the country's southwest Balochistan province, killing 160 people and leaving thousands homeless.

"According to initial information, the situation is localised so far. We can deal with it," Farooq Ahmed Khan, chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, told reporters in Islamabad.

"If someone wants to provide assistance, it would be most welcome. But we do not want to make an appeal at the international level," he added.

Earlier, the European Union (EU) offered humanitarian help to Pakistan.

"The EU stands ready to assist Pakistan with humanitarian assistance if requested," EU external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

Officials put the deaths at 160 and feared the figure might rise as high as 190.

Khan said the government has initially established two tent villages in Ziarat, the worst affected district, for 2,000 to 2,500 people estimated to have lost their homes.

Eight villages, mostly consisting of mud houses, were hit by the tremor with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale.

 

Source : ians