Jump to content

2005 Kashmir earthquake: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Kashmir earthquake''' (also known as the '''Paki killing eathquake''' or '''South Asia earthquake''') of 2005 was a major [[earthquake]] whose [[epicenter]] was the [[Azad Kashmir|Pakistan-administered]] [[territorial dispute|disputed region]] of [[Kashmir]]. The earthquake occurred at 08:50:38 [[Pakistan Standard Time]] (03:50:38 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], 09:20:38 [[Indian Standard Time]]) on [[October 8]], [[2005]]. It registered a minimum magnitude of 7.6 on the [[moment magnitude scale]] making it a major earthquake similar in intensity to the 1935 [[Quetta]] earthquake, the [[2001 Gujarat Earthquake]], and the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]]. As of 8 November, the Pakistani government's official death toll was 87,350. Some estimate that the death toll could reach over 100,000.<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/appeals/ios_appeal/article335931.ece "IoS Appeal: Last chance to donate to quake victims"] by Julia Stuart, ''The Independent: Online Edition'', 01 January 2006, retrieved 23 February 2006</ref>
The '''Kashmir earthquake''' (also known as the '''Paki killing eathquake''' or '''South Asia earthquake''') of 2005 was a major [[earthquake]] whose [[epicenter]] was the [[Azad Kashmir|Pakistan-administered]] [[territorial dispute|disputed region]] of [[Kashmir]]. The earthquake occurred at 08:50:38 [[Pakistan Standard Time]] (03:50:38 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], 09:20:38 [[Indian Standard Time]]) on [[October 8]], [[2005]]. It registered a minimum magnitude of 7.6 on the [[moment magnitude scale]] making it a major earthquake similar in intensity to the 1935 [[Quetta]] earthquake, the [[2001 Gujarat Earthquake]], and the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]]. As of 8 November, the Pakistani government's official death toll was 87,350. Some estimate that the death toll could reach over 100,000.<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/appeals/ios_appeal/article335931.ece "IoS Appeal: Last chance to donate to quake victims"] by Julia Stuart, ''The Independent: Online Edition'', 01 January 2006, retrieved 23 February 2006</ref>


Most of the affected areas are in mountainous regions with access impeded by [[landslides]] that blocked the roads, leaving an estimated 3.3 million homeless in Pakistan. The [[United Nations|UN]] reported that more than 4 million people were directly affected, prior to the commencement of winter snowfall in the [[Himalayan]] region. It is estimated that damages incurred are well over [[United States Dollar|US$]] 5 billion ([[Pakistani Rupee|Rs.]] 30 billion) Five crossing points were opened on the [[Line of Control]] (LoC) between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] to facilitate the flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the affected region.<ref name=bloomberg1>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aH5Z2m5aPhRw&refer=top_world_news "Pakistan Asks Quake Survivors to Leave Mountains Before Winter"] (Bloomberg), ''Bloomberg.com'', 26 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006</ref>
Most of the affected people had dirty skin (aka Pakis), and no one gave a fuck!!! are in mountainous regions with access impeded by [[landslides]] that blocked the roads, leaving an estimated 3.3 million homeless in Pakistan. The [[United Nations|UN]] reported that more than 4 million people were directly affected, prior to the commencement of winter snowfall in the [[Himalayan]] region. It is estimated that damages incurred are well over [[United States Dollar|US$]] 5 billion ([[Pakistani Rupee|Rs.]] 30 billion) Five crossing points were opened on the [[Line of Control]] (LoC) between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] to facilitate the flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the affected region.<ref name=bloomberg1>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aH5Z2m5aPhRw&refer=top_world_news "Pakistan Asks Quake Survivors to Leave Mountains Before Winter"] (Bloomberg), ''Bloomberg.com'', 26 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006</ref>
<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9626146/ "New figures put quake toll at more than 79,000"] AP, ,,MSNBC.com'', 19 October 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006</ref>
<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9626146/ "New figures put quake toll at more than 79,000"] AP, ,,MSNBC.com'', 19 October 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006</ref>
<ref>[http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6J93HT?OpenDocument "South Asia Earthquake: Fact Sheet #25 (FY 2006)"] ''Reliefweb.com'', 17 November 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006</ref>
<ref>[http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6J93HT?OpenDocument "South Asia Earthquake: Fact Sheet #25 (FY 2006)"] ''Reliefweb.com'', 17 November 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006</ref>

Revision as of 10:28, 11 May 2006

The Kashmir earthquake (also known as the Paki killing eathquake or South Asia earthquake) of 2005 was a major earthquake whose epicenter was the Pakistan-administered disputed region of Kashmir. The earthquake occurred at 08:50:38 Pakistan Standard Time (03:50:38 UTC, 09:20:38 Indian Standard Time) on October 8, 2005. It registered a minimum magnitude of 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale making it a major earthquake similar in intensity to the 1935 Quetta earthquake, the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. As of 8 November, the Pakistani government's official death toll was 87,350. Some estimate that the death toll could reach over 100,000.[1]

Most of the affected people had dirty skin (aka Pakis), and no one gave a fuck!!! are in mountainous regions with access impeded by landslides that blocked the roads, leaving an estimated 3.3 million homeless in Pakistan. The UN reported that more than 4 million people were directly affected, prior to the commencement of winter snowfall in the Himalayan region. It is estimated that damages incurred are well over US$ 5 billion (Rs. 30 billion) Five crossing points were opened on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan to facilitate the flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the affected region.[2] [3] [4]

The quake erupted near the city of Muzaffarabad; aftershocks have occurred to the northwest (USGS).

The earthquake

Map depicting tectonic plates shows Indian subcontinent and Eurasian landplate divide throughout Pakistan and Kashmir where earthquake activity is common.

Kashmir lies in the area of collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. [5]. The geological activity born out of this collision, also responsible for the birth of the Himalayan mountain range, is the cause of unstable seismicity in the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured its magnitude as a minimum of 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale, with its epicenter at 34°29′35″N 73°37′44″E / 34.49306°N 73.62889°E / 34.49306; 73.62889, about 19 km (11.8 miles) northeast of Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, and 100 km (65 miles) north-northeast of the national capital Islamabad. The earthquake is classified as "major" by the USGS. The hypocenter was located at a depth of 26 km (16.2 miles) below the surface [6]. The Japan Meteorological Agency estimated its magnitude at a minimum of 7.8. By comparison, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake had a magnitude of 9.15. The earthquake caused widespread destruction in northern Pakistan, as well as damage in Afghanistan and northern India. The worst hit areas were Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), and western and southern parts of the Kashmir valley in the Indian-administered Kashmir. It also affected some parts of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the city of Karachi experienced a minor aftershock of magnitude 4.6.

There have been many secondary earthquakes in the region, mainly to the northwest of the original epicenter. A total of 147 aftershocks were registered in the first day after the initial quake, of which one had a magnitude of 6.2 [6] Twenty-eight of these aftershocks occurred with magnitudes greater. On October 19, a series of strong aftershocks, one with a magnitude of 5.8, [6] occurred about 65 km (40.5 miles) north-northwest of Muzaffarabad. [7] There have been more than 978 aftershocks with a magnitude of 4.0 and above, as of 27 October [8] that continue to occur daily. (See USGS for a list of recent aftershocks.)

Casualties

2005 Kashmir earthquake casualties
Location Dead Injured
Pakistan (NWFP & Kashmir) 87,350     100,000    
India (Kashmir) 1,360     6,266
Afghanistan 3
Total 90,000+ 106,000+

Most of the casualties resulting from the earthquake were in Pakistan where the official death toll has topped 84,000 and is expected to continue to rise, putting it higher than the massive scale of destruction of the Quetta earthquake of May 31, 1935.

As Saturday is a normal school day in the region, most students were at schools when the earthquake struck. Many were buried under collapsed school buildings. Many people were also trapped in their homes and, because it was the month of Ramadan, most people were taking a nap after their pre-dawn meal and did not have time to escape during the quake. Reports indicate that entire towns and villages were completely wiped out in Northern Pakistan with other surrounding areas also suffering severe damage.

"...a second, massive wave of death will happen if we do not step up our efforts now", Kofi Annan said on 20 October with reference to the thousand remote villages in which people are in need of medical attention, food, clean water and shelter and the 120,000 survivors that have not yet been reached. [9]

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz "made the appeal to survivors" on 26 October to come down to valleys and cities for relief, [2] because bad weather, mountainous terrain, landslides and blocked roads are making it difficult for relief workers to reach each house and the winter snows are imminent.

Confirmed casualties

  • 49,739 have died, the injured around 74,000, Major General Farooq Ahmad Khan told a news conference on Thursday 20 October. [10]
  • "At least 40,000 people had been killed and 42,397 people had been hurt", Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said. He also added that "around 11,000 of the dead were in Muzaffarabad". [11]
  • 13,000 confirmed deaths in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.
  • This report was previously attributed to CNN, which "has not confirmed that figure". Later, the Pakistani-controlled Kashmir region's Minister for Works and Communication, Tariq Farooq, told AFP that more than 30,000 people have died in Kashmir. [12] [13]
  • 1,300 people perished and 4,500 were injured in the quake that flattened or damaged 32,000 houses in Jammu and Kashmir, according to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in latest press reports [14].
  • 250 bodies have been recovered in Pakistani-controlled Azad Kashmir according to authorities from Muzaffarabad.
  • Around 500 female students were killed when the roof of their school collapsed (Northern Pakistan).
  • As of November 9, approximately 2500 Pakistani soldiers were reportedly killed on duty in Pakistan, including three Brigadiers, fifteen battalion commanders as well as scores of junior officers. [15]
  • According to Pakistani officials, causalities of Pakistan Army are 453 dead including 10 officers (no brigadier) and 762 injured.
  • Sixteen Indian soldiers were killed in a bunker collapse in Uri sector of Kupwara.
  • At least thirty nine people were killed and over 150 others are being treated for injuries in Srinagar's SMHS hospital.
  • According to Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, one girl has been killed when a school collapsed in Rawalpindi in Pakistan and another 200-250 are feared dead. According to a NDTV report, one person died in Baramulla in India's Jammu and Kashmir state when a building collapsed.
  • Initial reports said that the quake was felt in Delhi, Punjab and Jammu, Afghanistan, and Kashmir. At least fifteen people were injured and four shops damaged.
  • According to the Associated Press, at least a dozen people were injured and dozens more were feared trapped in the rubble of a nineteen story collapsed building, reported earlier, in Islamabad.
  • In Pakistani Punjab state, shops and houses collapsed and rescuers cut through rubble to find survivors.
  • Two people were killed, including a five-year-old boy, in the border district of Gurdaspur, Indian Punjab.

Estimated casualties

  • Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan said on Pakistan's Geo television "Some people fear that the death toll could be 100,000 and they may be right." (16 October) [16]
  • Reuters say "at least 74,500 people are feared dead".
  • BBC say "73,000 estimated casualties."

Damage

Pakistan

  • An assessment of damaged buildings in Muzaffarabad and the surrounding area, by the Earthquake Engineering Center of the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, showed that about 60% of the buildings in urban areas were unreinforced solid concrete block masonry buildings and it was the collapse of more than 60% of these buildings that was responsible for the majority of deaths and injuries. [17]
  • Pakistani television reports widespread severe damage to Balakot (almost completely wiped out), Garhi Habibullah, Rawalakot, and Muzaffarabad (near the epicenter) where 30,000 are thought to have died.[18] The Pakistani Army spokesman, Major General Shaukat Sultan, told a press conference on 10 October that reports of damage in Rawalakot were exaggerated; 90 percent of the garrison city is still standing.
  • The quake triggered landslides, burying entire villages and roads in many areas of North-West Frontier Province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
  • Hundreds of thousands of buildings are thought to have collapsed or sustained severe damage.
  • One of two residential towers (Margalla Towers in F-10 sector, Islamabad), believed to contain up to sixty apartments each, collapsed in the earthquake in Islamabad. Pakistani government officials at the site stated the number of people affected by the collapse was in the hundreds, most of whom are feared dead. Efforts by rescue workers are ongoing. Over fifty-two people were rescued from the collapsed residential "Margalla Towers".
  • A team from the International Rescue Corps at the site said they located three more victims on the Sunday morning using audio detection equipment after the difficult task of arranging total silence at the crowded rescue site. [19]
  • The Karakoram highway is blocked at several points, hindering relief efforts.
  • Damage to buildings and several casualties have been reported in surrounding provinces of Punjab and Balochistan.

India

Geesh

Afghanistan

Three deaths were reported in Afghanistan, including a young girl who died in Jalalabad after a wall collapsed on her. The quake was felt in Kabul, but the effects were minimal. [23]

Rescue and relief operations

Humanitarian aid reaches the devastated far flung areas of Northern Pakistan
Pakistani Soldiers carry tents away from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter here October 19. The United States is taking part in the multinational effort to provide humanitarian assistance and support to Pakistan and Afghanistan following the devastating October 8 earthquake.
Heavy snowfall in the region around the epicenter, shown here in a January 6, 2006 NASA satellite image, has hampered relief efforts since beginning shortly after the earthquake struck.

Relief efforts in many remote villages are hampered, as roads are buried in rubble and many affected areas remain inaccessible. Heavy equipment is needed to clear the roads and to rescue survivors buried under the earthquake wreckage, as many rescuers are still picking the rubble with pickaxes and their bare hands, looking for survivors.

Rescue effort are also affected by the numerous aftershocks that continue to rattle the region and put rescue workers in danger as they search through the wreckage for survivors. [24]

Five crossing points are to be opened on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan in the province of Kashmir. The first has been opened at Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch, the second at Kaman Post in Uri (on the road between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad) and the third across the Neelum river between Chiliana in Pakistan and Tithwal in India. These will facilitate the flow of relief goods and allow people to meet relatives across the Line of Control. [21], [25], [26]

In many areas there is no power, or adequate food or water; there is also the danger of disease spreading [27], including measles. Distributing relief supplies to the victims is especially urgent as the victims face the risk of exposure to cold weather due to the region's high altitude and the approaching winter. Food, medicine supplies, tents and blankets have been identified by relief workers as essential items. [28] On October 10, the United Nations warned that the earthquake left 2.5 million people homeless and they are in need of shelter. The UN made an appeal to raise US$272 million to help victims.

On October 13, snow started to fall on the Indian side of Kashmir. Many regions are facing an increasing threat of being cut off from help as snow forces closures of even more roads in the mountainous region. [29]

Pakistan

In Northern Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the Pakistan Army has been directed to extend all out help to the civilian population in the quake-hit areas. All civilian and military hospitals have been directed to deal with the situation on an emergency basis. The President and the Prime Minister have appealed to the nation to remain calm in the face of the calamity and asked the concerned authorities to carry out an immediate assessment of the extent of damage caused by it.

The Government of Pakistan opened President's Relief Fund [30] for Earthquake relief operation, where donations can be made and also appealed for International Aid as the magnitude of the disaster becomes clear.

Earthquake relief blankets, tents, medicine, warm clothes, food and many more supplies are needed.[31][32][33]. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has offered free delivery of goods from anywhere in the world to Pakistan. Turkey has offered to airlift relief goods that arrive in Turkey to Pakistan free of cost.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz spoke on the telephone with authorities in four provinces plus Azad Kashmir, and directed them to utilize all machinery and make all possible efforts to help the victims. He said the entire federal administration, civil and military authorities have been alerted, and relief goods have been provided to them for the victims of the quake. Most of the roads are closed in the Northern Sector near the earthquake, and some have been completely washed out or blocked by landslides, so the Pakistani army is flying supplies in by helicopter.

In Garhi Habibullah, a town 205 miles (328 km) from the devastated city of Balakot in north-west Pakistan, Kashmiri fighters known as the mujahideen put aside their weapons and spent two days in helping rescue dozens of girls who were trapped in a collapsed building of a girls' school. [34]

On October 10, Monday, survivors were still being found and rescued from the wreckage including a 2-year-old girl in Islamabad. [27] Then on Wednesday, a Russian rescue team rescued a 5-year-old girl in Muzaffarabad who has been trapped for nearly 100 hours. [35]

On October 14 the Pakistan government agreed that unaccompanied children from the disaster should be taken to the SOS Children emergency shelter in Islamabad for family tracing in a central database and help and created a credit programme for affected families. They also agreed that SOS should be temporary guardian until relatives were traced. [36]

The Pakistani people from all regions and walks of life donated a huge amount of relief supplies in both goods and money for the earthquake victims which is unprecedented in the history of nations. [37]

The magnitude of this disaster is so vast that the Government alone cannot provide relief to the people affected by this earthquake. The response of the people of Pakistan to help the government in its relief efforts has been overwhelming in the shape of donations, relief goods and volunteers working in the hospitals and the earthquake hit areas. The injured are being ferried from remote areas to the hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad through helicopters every day. The relatives of these injured patients follow them to the twin-cities by road and pursue a long and painful search for their loved ones. Devastated with heavy losses of human lives and homes, these poor people often travel on foot from one hospital to another looking for their injured loved ones.

India

  • In the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, the injured are being treated at Srinagar's SMHS hospital and the Uri Field Hospital, with many makeshift medical facilities being set up to help the injured. Hundreds of people have been brought in, many of them critically injured. In keeping with a traditional duty since independence, the Indian Army has undertaken a key role in coordinating and running relief operations.
  • As of 10 October, many areas in the Baramulla district with about 15,000 people remain inaccessible. The army is attempting to reach these people using helicopters. [39]

International response

Main article: International response to 2005 Kashmir earthquake

Many countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations have offered relief aid to the region, in the form of donation as well as relief supplies including food, medical supplies, tents and blankets.

Rescue and relief workers were sent to the region from different parts of the world and they brought along rescue equipment, including helicopters and rescue dogs.

The United Nations has appealed for donations to raise at least US$272 million to help victims of the quake.

Notes

  1. ^ "IoS Appeal: Last chance to donate to quake victims" by Julia Stuart, The Independent: Online Edition, 01 January 2006, retrieved 23 February 2006
  2. ^ a b "Pakistan Asks Quake Survivors to Leave Mountains Before Winter" (Bloomberg), Bloomberg.com, 26 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006 Cite error: The named reference "bloomberg1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ "New figures put quake toll at more than 79,000" AP, ,,MSNBC.com, 19 October 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006
  4. ^ "South Asia Earthquake: Fact Sheet #25 (FY 2006)" Reliefweb.com, 17 November 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006
  5. ^ A Biography of the Himalaya
  6. ^ a b c USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
  7. ^ "Pak in panic as quake rocks Kashmir" Reuters, The Financial Express, 19 October 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006
  8. ^ "Pakistan: A summary report on Muzaffarabad earthquake" ReliefWeb, 7 November 2005, retrieved 23 February 2006
  9. ^ "Thousands at risk of starving in quake aid shortfall" by Catherine Philp, The Times, 21 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ [2]
  12. ^ [3]
  13. ^ [4]
  14. ^ "Quake: Relief works in full swing", by Anand Soondas, The Times of India, 12 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  15. ^ [5]
  16. ^ "Death Toll in Pakistan Quake up to 54,000", by Kathy Gannon, ABC News International, 16 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  17. ^ "Pakistan: A summary report on Muzaffarabad earthquake", ReliefWeb, 7 November 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  18. ^ [6]
  19. ^ "Scores feared dead in Pakistan quake", Reuters/AFP, ABC News Online, 8 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  20. ^ "R E G I O N: Sonia Gandhi visits Kashmir quake survivors", AFP, Daily Times, 10 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  21. ^ a b "Nearly 300 killed as quake jolts J&K, Hazratbal tower damaged", by Mukhtar Ahmad and Onkar Singh, rediff.com, 8 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006 Cite error: The named reference "Rediff" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  22. ^ "Hundreds die in South Asia quake", BBC News, 8 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  23. ^ "Pakistan puts quake toll at 18,000", CNN.com, 8 October 2005, retrieved 24 February 2006
  24. ^ [7]
  25. ^ "Kaman Post reopens, but this time crowd is missing", by Riyaz Wani & Majid Jahangir, The Indian Express, 10 November 2005, retrieved 25 February 2006
  26. ^ [8]
  27. ^ a b "Millions homeless; storms slow aid", CNN.com, 12 October 2005, retrieved 25 February 2006 Cite error: The named reference "CNN" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  28. ^ [9]
  29. ^ "Pakistan, Indian Earthquake Survivors Face Threat From Winter", (Bloomberg), Bloomberg, 13 October 2005, retrieved 25 February 2006
  30. ^ Earthquake Pakistan
  31. ^ Earthquake 10-05 Requests, Wikicities
  32. ^ Red Crescent - Medical Supplies Requirement
  33. ^ Relief Needs for Earthquake Region in Pakistan, Federal Relief Commission
  34. ^ "Fighters rescue children from the rubble", by Nasir Malick, Telegraph, 11 October 2005, retrieved 25 February 2006
  35. ^ [10]
  36. ^ "Earthquake in Pakistan/Kashmir", SOS Children
  37. ^ [11]
  38. ^ "PM, Advani to visit quake-hit areas", rediff.com, 10 October 2005, retrieved 25 February 2006
  39. ^ [12]

References

Information

Multimedia

News articles

Commentary

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2005_Kashmir_earthquake&oldid=52637859"
pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy