Strong 6.0-magnitude quake strikes Balochistan in Pakistan

BREAKING: A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake has struck Balochistan in Pakistan.

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake has struck Balochistan in southwestern Pakistan.

The seismic readings came in a short time ago, and you can see the trace here. For now the magnitude and the location are what we know for certain. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province and one of its most remote, with communities scattered across hard terrain.

That geography matters. Much of the housing in the region is mud brick, and in past earthquakes that kind of construction has come down with very little warning. The province sits on active fault lines and has a long history of destructive quakes.

There are no confirmed reports of casualties or damage at this hour. The first hours after a quake in remote terrain are always slow, phone lines drop, roads are cut, and the real picture takes time to reach the outside world. A magnitude 6 in a region built like this one is a serious number, and we will bring you the assessment as it comes.

This is Liu Yang, reporting for HIT.