PAKISTAN: President Pervez Musharraf asks for helicopters to reach areas made inaccessible by devastating Earthquake

Record ID: 858270

  • Title: PAKISTAN: President Pervez Musharraf asks for helicopters to reach areas made inaccessible by devastating Earthquake
  • Date: 10th October 2005
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTANI PRESIDENT , SAYING: "I would call it about 75 percent of Balakot, this small town, is gone, I think. Mansehra area, this area is affected also. Then as far as Azad Kashmir, this part of Kashmir is concerned, yes indeed there's major destruction in this city. And I'm going to go further to Bagh and Rawlakot where I'm told there is destruction also. The total casualties here in Azad Kashmir, we feel, are something like fifteen to twenty thousand; but it can't be very accurate assessment." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTANI PRESIDENT , SAYING: "And because the roads are blocked the problem is of transportation. And since a C-130 cannot land we are totally banked on helicopter support. So there is a limitation of helicopters. I'm asking international support on helicopters, cargo helicopters, to be able to transport goods to remote areas, inaccessible areas." MORE OF MUSHARRAF VISITING SURVIVORS
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVACFYX7SB4WUM0Y7RAYG4BKREHQ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday (October 9, 2005) the earthquake was the worst disaster the nation had faced in recent history and appealed to Pakistanis -- locally and abroad -- for help.
    Musharraf visited Muzzafarabad -- one of Pakistan's worst hit spots -- where he was briefed on aid efforts by military advisors.
    He assured the public that all civil agencies and other resources had been deployed to help with the rescue and recovery effort, adding that military planes were the only way to get access to the remote areas which were cut off due to damaged roads.
    He described the damage he had seen.
    "I would call it about 75 percent of Balakot, this small town, is gone, I think. Mansehra area, this area is affected also. Then as far as Azad Kashmir, this part of Kashmir is concerned, yes indeed there's major destruction in this city. And I'm going to go further to Bagh and Rawlakot where I'm told there is destruction also. The total casualties here in Azad Kashmir, we feel, are something like fifteen to twenty thousand; but it can't be very accurate assessment," he said.
    The president also asked for international help with the aid effort.
    "And because the roads are blocked the problem is of transportation. And since a C-130 cannot land we are totally banked on helicopter support. So there is a limitation of helicopters. I'm asking international support on helicopters, cargo helicopters, to be able to transport goods to remote areas, inaccessible areas," he said.
    Musharraf also gave his thanks to global leaders for their help and calls. In a further sign of easing tension between India and Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Musharraf to offer assistance.
    Striking out from the forest clad mountains of Pakistani Kashmir near the border with India, the quake was the strongest to hit south Asia in a century.
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