Death toll from Pakistan earthquake rises to 37

The death toll from the tragic 5.8 magnitude earthquake which hit the northern Jehlum area of Pakistan situated in the Punjab province of the country has risen from 25 to 37, local authorities say.

That much information was revealed by the Mirpur divisional commissioner, Muhammad Tayyab, on Wednesday, who revealed to newsmen that the dead included men, women and children.

Rescue operatives who say the death toll may likely rise again revealed that 300 other victims were wounded during the earthquake with some of those injured having serious cuts and bruises.

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Reports also revealed that many residents in the area stayed outside their homes overnight for fear of more aftershocks.

Mirpur police said the damage was mainly limited to the area around Mirpur, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, located about 85km (53 miles) southeast of the country.

Speaking with Al Jazeera, local disaster management officials said they were still gathering reports from the site of the earthquake, but had received word of damage to infrastructure.

“We have reports of cracks in the roads there,” said disaster management official Ammar Raza Shaikh.

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