Pakistani officials are investigating whether the powerful earthquake that killed dozens of people also created a new island off the southern coast.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department's director general, Arif Mahmood, said witnesses have reported that a small island has appeared near the port of Gwadar.

He says the quake could have caused the earth under the sea to rise, but officials need to investigate further.

Gwadar police chief Pervez Umrani said the new land mass is visible from the beach. He said the mass is about nine metres (30ft) high and 100 metres long.

At least 39 people were killed by the earthquake.