PAKISTAN: Thousands feared dead as a major earthquake shakes south Asian subcontinent

Record ID: 583690

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Thousands feared dead as a major earthquake shakes south Asian subcontinent
  • Date: 8th October 2005
  • Summary: LOW ANGLE SHOT COLLAPSED TOWER; WIDE RESCUE WORKERS TRYING TO ENTER BUILDING (7 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA2C5PHRMH7BC56JELH6EY268G9
  • Story Text: A major earthquake shook cities and villages across the south Asian subcontinent on Saturday (October 8, 2005), "wiping out" several villages in Pakistan and leading to fears that the death toll could run into thousands.
    Officials said heavy damage was expected in northern Pakistan, but details were difficult to obtain because telephone lines were down and mobile networks overwhelmed. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.6, struck at 0350 GMT and was centred in forest-clad mountains of Pakistani Kashmir, near the Indian border, about 95 km (60 miles) northeast of Islamabad.
    The first quake was followed by a series of frightening also the biggest at 1046 GMT.
    They were felt across the subcontinent and shook buildings in the Afghan, Indian and Bangladeshi capitals, Kabul, New Delhi and Dhaka.
    "This morning we felt extremely strong tremors, and all of us woke up and ran out. The shocks went on for a long time. We have never seen an earthquake like this before," said Islamabad resident Malik Abdul Malan.
    Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf viewed the damage of Saturday's (October 8) earthquake from a helicopter in the capital Islamabad before meeting rescue workers.
    As the earthquake struck Islamabad, journalists were forced to evacuate the studios of Pakistan television during a live transmission as cameras and lights shook and the electricity supply was cut plunging the transmission into darkness.
    More than 100 people were killed in one district of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province alone, police said. Damage was also heavy in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir, residents said.
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