More than 40 dead in SW Pakistan quake

[ejaz007]

More than 40 dead in SW Pakistan quake: police
submitted 23 minutes ago


More than 40 people were killed when a strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Pakistan near its border with Afghanistan early Wednesday, police said. "We have confirmed reports of more than 40 people dead when their homes collapsed in the earthquake," said Abdul Khaleq, a senior police official in the hill resort of Ziarat, about 50 kilometres (35 miles) east of Quetta. A woman was also killed in Pishin district to the west of Quetta, another police official said.


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[EagleEyes]

Strong quake hits Pakistan, at least 100 killed

By SATTAR KAKAR – 58 minutes ago

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A strong earthquake struck villages in southwestern Pakistan before dawn Wednesday, killing at least 100 people, injuring scores more and destroying hundreds of homes, officials said.

The death toll was expected to rise as reports arrived from remote areas of Baluchistan province, an impoverished area bordering Afghanistan.

"It will be much more," Sohail ur Rahman, a top civilian official in one of the affected districts, told Dawn News television.

Zamaruk Khan, the minister for revenue and rehabilitation, said "more than 100" people have been found dead so far and the government is readying food, shelter and medical care for survivors.

A reporter for AP Television News saw dozens of bodies and injured in a hospital in Zaras, in the Ziarat district. A doctor there, Mohammed Irfan, said the hospital was unable to cope with the injured it was receiving.

The quake struck two hours before dawn and had a preliminary magnitude of 6.4, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It was a shallow 10 miles below the surface and was centered about 400 miles southwest of the capital, Islamabad.

The worst-hit area appeared to be Ziarat, where hundreds of mostly mud and timber houses were destroyed in five villages, said the mayor, Dilawar Kakar. Some were buried in landslides triggered by the quake, he said.

Kakar said 120 about people were injured.

"Rescue work is being carried out by the villagers themselves, but a larger operation is needed here," he said.

The army said it was rushing medical teams on helicopters to the affected villages.

Pakistan is prone to violent seismic upheavals. Wednesday's quake was the deadliest since a magnitude-7.6 quake devastated Kashmir and northern Pakistan in October 2005, killing about 80,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Baluchistan is home to a long-running separatist movement, but is not considered a major battle ground in the fight against Taliban insurgents that plague other border regions.

Associated Press writer Matiullah Achakzai contributed to this report from Chaman.

The Associated Press: Strong quake hits Pakistan, at least 100 killed

 

[Moin91]

Inna Lillah Wa Inna Ilaih Raji'on

 

[overseer]

We feel your pain. Our deepest condolences.

 

[Imran Khan]

so sad allah help us on this time

 

[Imran Khan]

Balochistan quake toll crosses 150 Updated at: 1420 PST, Wednesday, October 29, 2008
QUETTA: More than 150 people were killed and hundreds wounded when an earthquake struck different districts of Balochistan on Wednesday morning.

State-run television has confirmed the killing of 150 people as 12 aftershocks have been felt so far in the affected areas created fears of more losses of lives and property.

According to metrological office, the aftershocks would likely lasts for a week. Meanwhile, 25 doctors and 100 paramedical staff have been deployed in Khawas field hospital. Local officials said that 130 bodies have been recovered so far whereas massive destruction and closure of roads creating obstacles in rescue operations.

Ziarat is the worst hit area where 80 people were killed and majority of houses have been destroyed. Emergency has been imposed in all hospitals of the province.

According to geological survey of Quetta, two tremors had struck Balochistan on Wednesday morning, the second one bigger than the first. The magnitude of first tremor was recorded 5 that struck at 4:33 am. Another strong quake hit the areas at 5:10 with magnitude 6.5 created panic among the residents. Rescue operations are underway in quake-hit areas.

 

[Imran Khan]

8 villages badly hit by 6.4 magnitude quake: police
submitted 1 hour 55 minutes ago
A powerful earthquake in southwest Pakistan killed more than 100 people early Wednesday, destroying mud homes and sending survivors screaming into the streets in panic. At least eight villages were badly hit in the 6.4-magnitude quake, police said, warning that the death toll could climb still higher as rescue workers reached villages in the remote region bordering Afghanistan. It struck just after 5:00 am and left scores more people injured, local authorities said. Most of the deaths were in outlying villages, as mud houses were destroyed and the tremors triggered landslides of rocks and boulders while people slept in their beds. In Quetta, the nearest big town, witnesses said people fled screaming from their homes. Television footage showed many outside in the streets, wrapped up against the early morning chill. "We have reports from local party officials that more than 100 people have died," Zamarak Khan, revenue minister of gas-rich Baluchistan provincesaid. Earlier, senior police officer Qaseem Kakar, from the historic hill fort town of Ziarat, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Quetta, said they had recovered 77 bodies. His colleague Mohammed Ghaiyas added: "There are still people under the debris. Around 100 people are injured."Six people were killed in the nearby district of Pishin, police there said. Mohammed Sultan, from the town of Sanjawai, said that the first tremor shook him awake from his deep sleep shortly before 5:00am, before he felt a larger shockwave about 10 minutes later. In Ziarat buildings had collapsed and communications had been cut, he said, adding: "The town looks devastated. Parts of it are badly damaged. "My relatives live in Ziarat but I can't contact them to find out how they are." The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 5:09 am and measured 6.2, later revising that magnitude up to 6.4. The Pakistan Meterological Office put it as 6.5. The epicentre was located some 70 kilometres north of Quetta in Baluchistan province, about 185 kilometres southeast of the Afghan city of Kandahar, they added. A Pakistani military spokesman said some 250 troops and two helicopters had been sent from Quetta to Ziarat, while an aerial assessment of the damage was also underway. Immediate medical help was also dispatched. "The destruction is heavy, people need immediate help and we are providing assistance to the affected people," Colonel Mohammed Babar, who flew over the region. After-shocks were still being felt in the region throughout the morning, the Pakistan Metereological Office said. In Kandahar, provincial police chief Mutihullah Khan Qatah said people had felt the quake, "but we don't yet have any reports of casualties or damage to buildings". Officials were trying to contact their counterparts in outlying areas, he added. Ziarat is a historic hill resort famed for its juniper forests. It receives visitors from all over Pakistan in summer who come to see the holiday home of the country's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Most of the casualties were from two villages on the outskirts of the town which were built on steep ground and badly damaged in landslides triggered by the quake, which struck at a depth of 10 kilometres, officials said.

Local government officials said they had asked for paramedics and rescuers. A 7.6-magnitude earthquake in northwest Pakistan and Kashmir killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million in October 2005. In 1935 a massive quake killed around 30,000 people in Quetta, which at the time was part of British-ruled India.

 

[Imran Khan]

Army contingents, helicopters reach quake-hit areas
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan army contingents and two army helicopters reached in quake-hit areas of Balohistan to take part in rescue operation.

According to ISPR, two army helicopters have been sent from Quetta to Warchun and Kowas. FC contingents from Pishni and medical teams have also sent reached in the areas

 

[Imran Khan]

Over 70 bodies recovered in Ziarat: IG Balcohistan

QUETTA: Inspector General of Police Balochistan said that Ziarat has suffered most losses of lives and property in the quake where more than 70 bodies have been recovered.

IG Balochistan Asif Nawaz Warraich told Geo News that quake played havoc in different areas of Ziarat and damaged communication system badly.

More than 77 bodies have been recovered from different parts of Ziarat. Police sources said that over 100 wounded have been shifted in different hospitals and rescue operation is underway.

 

[Imran Khan]

President, PM direct immediate relief for quake-hit areas ISLAMABAD: The Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority Lt.Gen(R) Farooq Ahmad said that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani directed for immediate relief operations in quake affected areas of Balochistan.

Talking to Geo News, Gen Farooq said that all arrangements have been made to dispatch tents and relief goods in the affected areas and it would be dispatched according to requirement of Balcohistan government.

He said that President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had informed about the losses made by the quake

 

[Imran Khan]

frist images from earthquike towns

 

[Imran Khan]

No /2008-ISPR Dated 29-10-2008
Rawalpindi, October 29: Army troops including Medical team in two helicopters have been moved early this morning from Quetta to villages Warchoon and Kawas of Ziarat. These are most affected villages due to last night earthquake. FC troops also moved from Pishin for rescue operations in Ziarat. DIG, Frontier Corps Balochistan has been flown to Ziarat to access exact damage for rescue operations.

 

[Imran Khan]

Pakistani relatives stand next to an ear
Pakistani relatives stand next to an earthquake victim at a hospital in Quetta on October 29, 2008. More than 40 people were killed when a strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Pakistan near its border with Afghanistan early October 29, police said. AFP PHOTO/Banaras KHAN (Photo credit should read BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

 

[su-47]

may the victims rest in peace.

It is fortunate that the area is not so densely populated. a 6.4 scale earthquake near a major city would have been horrible beyond words.

 

[Contrarian]

Hope those affected get relief soon.
From another POV, this would also affect Pakistan's war against TTP.