At least eight people have died in a cholera outbreak in Chena Khundi, Musakhel district of Balochistan, including six children and two men, raising the total deaths over the past three weeks to 12, health officials said on Saturday.

District Health Officer Abdul Ghaffar Khetran said medical teams from Quetta, Loralai, and Barkhan have reached the affected area, and medicines have been sent by the DG Health Quetta.

A government school in the region has been converted into a temporary hospital to provide immediate medical care.

Water samples have been collected to determine the cause of the outbreak.

According to the DHO, the local dispensary was already closed due to its deteriorating condition.

Residents have urged the Deputy Commissioner for urgent assistance, deployment of additional medical staff, and reopening of the dispensary. They said the timely operation of the dispensary could have controlled the outbreak faster and prevented the loss of lives.