UPDATE 9:57AM:
Pakistan's chief meteorologist says a major earthquake has struck the country's Baluchistan province, but there has been no immediate word on casualties.
Mohammed Riaz says the magnitude 7. 7 quake hit on Tuesday near the town of Khuzdar in Baluchistan.
A major earthquake struck Tuesday in southwestern Pakistan, sending people fleeing into the streets and praying for their lives as buildings swayed, officials said.
The province in southwest Pakistan is the country's largest but also the least populated. There was no immediate word on casualties.
This earthquake struck in a remote area of Baluchistan with little population, said the head of Pakistan's Earthquake Center, Zahid Rafi. He warned of possible aftershocks.
***BREAKING NEWS***
The tremor occurred at 7:29 a.m. Eastern time (4:29 p.m. local time) and shook the Pakistani mountain region, according to the USGS.
The earthquake was originally rated a 7.4 on the Richter scale but was later upgraded to a 7.8. Following the temblor, the USGS issued a "Red Alert," giving a 73 percent chance of 1,000 or more deaths.
A 5.9-magnitude aftershock was reported near the epicenter just minutes after the initial quake. There are no reports of injuries or damage, but please check back for updates.
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