The Pakistan earthquake - an overview
Published: 01 January, 2006
October 8th, 2005 - Pakistan: The earthquake that struck Pakistan has now caused nearly 75,000 deaths and the toll is still rising with the impending winter. Officials say that the damage
might take about a decade to repair.
Tens of thousands of people have been injured and up to three million have been left homeless. Worst of all, the rescue efforts in the aftermath of the quake were delayed when foreign rescue teams met obstructions when they tried to enter Pakistan, due to bureaucracy at Pakistan’s airports.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir was the region hardest hit. The capital Muzaffarabad was almost completely destroyed. Even today the impact of the ‘quake in some remote villages remains unknown. The head of the UN relief operations, Jan Egeland reported:”I have never seen such a devastation.”
The death toll in this area alone may exceed 40,000, with 70,000 people injured. Landslides blocked roads and there was extensive damage to electricity, water and telephone infrastructure. Almost all hospitals were devastated. Mortality in this area is still growing, due to a lack of shelter.
In the North West frontier province there are believed to be 38,000 casualties. About 140,000 people are believed to be homeless. Soldiers are still struggling to clear roads blocked by landslides. Food and aid tents have been delivered to the area, although torrential rain and snow has interrupted airdrops. Officials say that some villages in this area have been wiped off
the map completely.
In Indian-Administered Kashmir the districts of Uri and Tangdar are worst affected and 10 villages in the area are still cut off. The Chief Minister of the Province says 40,000 homes have been destroyed and 1,400 people have died. Authorities believe that over a 140,000 people are believed to be homeless.
