The death toll in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan's Balochistan province Tuesday afternoon has reached 348, the provincial government said Thursday.

 

 A total of 20,000 houses were destroyed in the earthquake, Xinhua reported citing a the provincial government.

 

 A press release issued Thursday morning by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Balochistan said Awaran was the most affected area where 95 percent of the houses were destroyed or damaged in the quake.

 

 According to the release, of the 348 people killed, 305 died in Awaran and 43 in Kech.

 

 The Tuesday afternoon earthquake mainly affected six districts in the southern part of Balochistan with the epicentre most close to Awaran, a district located at 27.09 degrees north latitude and 65. 61 degrees east longitude.

 

 A rescue and relief operation involving army, paramilitary forces and civilians was underway in full swing in the affected areas, said local officials.

 

 IANS