Two major earthquakes hit southwestern Pakistan's Balochistan province early Wednesday morning, leaving more than 160 people dead, many others injured and 15,000 people shelterless. As many as 12 aftershocks hit the affected areas, according to local media reports.

The video grab taken on Oct. 29, 2008 shows a local resident looks after homeless children because of the quake in the worst-hit Ziarat area in southwestern Pakistan's Balochistan province. At least 160 people died as an earthquake hit southwestern Pakistan's Balochistan province early Wednesday morning, private DAWN NEWS TV channel reported.[Xinhua/DAWN NEWS TV channel]

A strong aftershock measuring 6. 2 on the Richter scale was recorded in southwestern Pakistan's earthquake-hit areas on Wednesday, according to the United States Incorporated Research Institution for Seismology.

Local TV channel Ary One World reported that the new quake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and 60 more people were injured as a result.

Pakistan's army rushed its medical teams on helicopters into Khawas and other towns and villages in the worst-hit areas. A total of 25 doctors are busy providing first aid to the injured, private Geo TV channel reported.

Earthquake victims dig through rubble after an earthquake in Ziarat, Baluchistan province, in this video grab taken Oct. 29, 2008.

The DAWN NEWS TV channel quoted Farooq Ahmad Khan as saying that around 2,000 houses had been damaged and up to 2,000 tents had been sent to the quake-affected areas.

However, he said there was not need to turn to other countries for help at the moment.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday sent a message of sympathy to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, saying he was shocked upon hearing the news of the earthquake and felt pain over the great casualties and property loss in Pakistan.

The Chinese people are very sympathetic to the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan as they themselves are still recovering from a magnitude-8 quake that rocked China's Sichuan province in May, Hu said.

The Chinese president extended his condolences to the victims and expressed the belief that the Pakistani people will overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homeland.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also sent sympathy messages to their Pakistani counterparts on the same day.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2008)