ID :
27568
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 19:19
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https://oananews.org//node/27568
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Rescuers look for survivors of Pak quake; toll reaches 215
Islamabad, Oct 30 (PTI) Braving freezing temperatures, rescuers on Thursday sifted through the debris of the collapsed mud houses in Pakistan's impoverished Balochistan province to look for more survivors of a massive quake that left at least 215 people dead as thousands of displaced people anxiously waited for relief supplies.
Soldiers and paramilitary forces fanned out across the remote and underdeveloped Ziarat and Pishin districts, which bore the brunt of yesterday's 6.5-magnitude quake, to search for survivors and ferry relief supplies. Army choppers carried out missions to spot survivors in rugged mountainous terrain.
Balochistan Revenue Minister Zamarruk Khan said the toll had climbed to 215 and was likely to rise as whole families had disappeared. A total of 20,000 people were left homeless as their houses were reduced to rubble by the pre-dawn quake.
Reports from Ziarat said thousands of people spent the night in open as temperatures fell as low as minus six degrees Celsius in some areas. Rescuers put up tents for survivors but only 3,000 people could be accommodated in one relief camp.
Most of deaths were reported from Ziarat district, which was hit hardest by the quake as it was close to the epicentre. The bodies of about 140 victims were buried by rescuers and volunteers in Ziarat last night. Eight villages in the district were completely destroyed by the temblor.
More damage was caused in Ziarat and surrounding areas
yesterday by several major aftershocks, the biggest of which measured 6.4 in the Richter scale. The aftershocks caused landslides in the mountains and sparked fresh panic.
Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry, Director General of the meteorological office, said 44 "significant aftershocks" had been recorded since yesterday though their magnitude had shown a "decreasing trend". The aftershocks are expected to continue for six more days.
Local officials estimate 46,000 people could be in need
of shelter and aid. Pakistani and international groups have
launched efforts to ferry relief supplies but were being
hampered by blocked and damaged roads and landslides.
Provincial Minister Maulvi Abdul Samad Akhundzada said
the priority would be to "rescue people buried under
debris".
Twelve army helicopters have been deployed for the relief
operations as C-130 aircraft transported thousands of
blankets, jackets, plastic mats and other supplies to
Balochistan.
A special aircraft carrying relief goods, including
tents, blankets, food, medicines and other items, for the
people of Ziarat was dispatched today on the directives of
President Asif Ali Zardari.
The President directed authorities to take immediate
action and rush the relief goods to affected areas.
The World Health Organisation sent two truckloads of
medicines and supplies to Ziarat and Pishin to support 50,000
people for three months.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing "deep grief"
over the widespread loss of life and property, has also
offered aid to Pakistan.
In a letter to his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza
Gilani, Singh said the government of India stands ready to
offer all possible assistance required by Pakistan to provide
relief to the people affected by the tragedy.
The US State Department said it was working with the UN,
the Pakistan government and other donors to assess damage and
was "ready to provide an assistance package". A UN team has
been sent to Balochistan to assess the damage.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's biggest province by area
but has the smallest population, has witnessed major quakes in
the past. The provincial capital Quetta was devastated in 1935
by a 7.6-magnitude quake that killed 30,000 people. PTI
Soldiers and paramilitary forces fanned out across the remote and underdeveloped Ziarat and Pishin districts, which bore the brunt of yesterday's 6.5-magnitude quake, to search for survivors and ferry relief supplies. Army choppers carried out missions to spot survivors in rugged mountainous terrain.
Balochistan Revenue Minister Zamarruk Khan said the toll had climbed to 215 and was likely to rise as whole families had disappeared. A total of 20,000 people were left homeless as their houses were reduced to rubble by the pre-dawn quake.
Reports from Ziarat said thousands of people spent the night in open as temperatures fell as low as minus six degrees Celsius in some areas. Rescuers put up tents for survivors but only 3,000 people could be accommodated in one relief camp.
Most of deaths were reported from Ziarat district, which was hit hardest by the quake as it was close to the epicentre. The bodies of about 140 victims were buried by rescuers and volunteers in Ziarat last night. Eight villages in the district were completely destroyed by the temblor.
More damage was caused in Ziarat and surrounding areas
yesterday by several major aftershocks, the biggest of which measured 6.4 in the Richter scale. The aftershocks caused landslides in the mountains and sparked fresh panic.
Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry, Director General of the meteorological office, said 44 "significant aftershocks" had been recorded since yesterday though their magnitude had shown a "decreasing trend". The aftershocks are expected to continue for six more days.
Local officials estimate 46,000 people could be in need
of shelter and aid. Pakistani and international groups have
launched efforts to ferry relief supplies but were being
hampered by blocked and damaged roads and landslides.
Provincial Minister Maulvi Abdul Samad Akhundzada said
the priority would be to "rescue people buried under
debris".
Twelve army helicopters have been deployed for the relief
operations as C-130 aircraft transported thousands of
blankets, jackets, plastic mats and other supplies to
Balochistan.
A special aircraft carrying relief goods, including
tents, blankets, food, medicines and other items, for the
people of Ziarat was dispatched today on the directives of
President Asif Ali Zardari.
The President directed authorities to take immediate
action and rush the relief goods to affected areas.
The World Health Organisation sent two truckloads of
medicines and supplies to Ziarat and Pishin to support 50,000
people for three months.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing "deep grief"
over the widespread loss of life and property, has also
offered aid to Pakistan.
In a letter to his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza
Gilani, Singh said the government of India stands ready to
offer all possible assistance required by Pakistan to provide
relief to the people affected by the tragedy.
The US State Department said it was working with the UN,
the Pakistan government and other donors to assess damage and
was "ready to provide an assistance package". A UN team has
been sent to Balochistan to assess the damage.
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's biggest province by area
but has the smallest population, has witnessed major quakes in
the past. The provincial capital Quetta was devastated in 1935
by a 7.6-magnitude quake that killed 30,000 people. PTI
