Earthquake Update from Balakot |
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October 11th, 2005 - 04:22PM |
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Photo: Abdul Haseeb, Ilyas Khan /IRC Here is the latest report e-mailed by Internatinal Rescue Committee staff responding in the particularly hard-hit town of Balakot, Manshera District: Balakot is a busy market town with hotels and grocery shops, but it appears that 99% of the buildings have been destroyed. Our team saw only 5-8 houses intact. Two schools, a police station and government offices were entirely flattened. According to the survivors, many throusands of people are still trapped under debris after 48 hours. Only 50 dead bodies have been recovered from a two-story school building that collapsed with 700 children inside. The remaining are still under rubble. Bodies recovered from the debris are lying in open fields and roads, as there are not enough resources to bury them. Moreover, the dead cannot be identified as entire families have perished. There are big cracks in roads and the communication routes are frequently blocked and cleared throughout the day as landslides are occurring frequently. There is no electricity, water, food or shelter, and phone lines are not properly working. Army helicopters are busy evacuating wounded. Needs include: Excavation equipment and other machinery to recover trapped people; winterized tents; blankets; warm clothing; food and water; cloth and coffins for burying the dead. - Abdul Haseeb and Ilyas Khan Posted By: Kathleen Sands | Asia, Pakistan Earthquake Permalink |
