Balochistan quake: Death toll rises to 208, says DC Awaran
Wednesday, September 25th, 2013 4:30:10 by News Pakistan Admin
AWARAN: Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Awaran Abdul Rashid Baloch confirmed that 208 people have died because of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the area on September 25, Express News reported on Wednesday.
He has also made an appeal for support to help those affected by the quake.
Around 300 or more people are injured, said DC Awaran. Seventeen of the injured are being taken to Karachi for treatment.
Medical teams including 15 ambulances had reached the area last night to help the victims.
Rescue work is underway and the Frontier Corps and the Army are providing aid to the victims.
At least 33 bodies were found in Mashkay and 173 bodies were found in Awaran.
Background
Tremors and aftershocks of the quake were felt as far afield as the Indian capital of New Delhi and the Gulf states of Oman and the UAE. The US Geological Survey (USGS) had issued a red alert, warning that heavy casualties were likely based on past data.
The government ordered a massive rescue operation. Army and civil rescuers were sent to the affected region to pull out casualties as residents said dozens of people are trapped under the rubble of their collapsed houses.
According to the USGS, the epicentre was 23 kilometres below the ground in Awaran district. It was so powerful that it caused the seabed to rise and create a small, mountain-like island off Gwadar coast in the Arabian Sea. In 2005, a 7.6-magnitude quake centred in Azad Kashmir had caused widespread damage, killing at least 80,000 people and leaving millions shelter-less in one of the worst natural disasters to hit Pakistan.
Tuesday’s quake hit Quetta, Chagai, Dalbandin, Naushki, Panjgur, Turbat, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Mastung, Kalat, Sorab, Khuzdar, Sibi, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Lasbela, Taftan, Nokkundi and dozens of other cities and towns of the impoverished province.
Awaran district has an estimated population of around 300,000, scattered over an area of more than 21,000 square kilometres. “Over 50% of urban and around 90% of rural areas of the district have been ravaged by the quake,” Mir Quddus Bizenjo, the deputy speaker of Balochistan Assembly, had told reporters by phone. He had put the death toll at 150-plus in Awaran alone.
Tags: Awaran, Balochistan, death, quake, rises, says, tollShort URL: https://quetta.newspakistan.pk/?p=7001
Posted by News Pakistan Admin
on Sep 25 2013. Filed under Latest News.
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