Over 200 dead as 7.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Pakistan
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck major cities of Pakistan, including the northern areas on Monday, leaving at least 200 dead and more than 1,000 injured due to building collapses, landslides, stampedes and other quake related incidents.
The earthquake struck the country at 2:09pm today (Monday).
The death toll could climb in the coming days because communications are down in much of the remote mountainous region.
Forty minutes after the first earthquake, an aftershock of 4.8 magnitude was reported in the same area. Aftershocks are expected to continue in the affected areas.
While the magnitude of today’s earthquake is close to the devastating quake of 2005, the epicentre of the 2005 quake was shallow, causing more destruction, said analyst Faheem Zaman.
The earthquake in 2005 was at a depth of 26 km, while today’s earthquake was at a depth of 196 km.
Major updates
- Epicentre reported as Hindu Kush mountain range
- Casualties reported in Swat, Bajaur Agency, Kallar Kahar, Sargodha, Kasur, Malakand
- Communications services disrupted in Islamabad, Peshawar
- Tremors felt in Delhi, Kabul
- Emergency numbers for Peshawar 091921302 and 091921138
- Karakoram Highway blocked at five places due to landslides
At least 200 dead across Pakistan
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata 191
- Punjab 5
- Azad Jammu Kashmir 1
- Gilgit Balitistan 3
Commissioner Malakand Division Usman told DawnNews that 137 people were killed in Malakand which comprises Swat, Upper and Lower Dir , Chitral, Shangla and Buner areas.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered that 2,000 tents be sent to earthquake affected areas.
An MI-17 helicopter was also placed at the disposal of the KP government to carry out relief efforts.
“A nine-bed mobile hospital with team of surgeons will be dispatched to Dir immediately,” read a statement issued by the PM House.
Scores injured
Around 1,076 people were injured in incidents of roof and wall collapses mostly in the remote mountainous areas.
At least 194 injured were brought to Swat's Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital, which does not have adequate medical facilities.
More than 100 wounded have been admitted to Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital.
Tremors have been felt in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta, Kohat and Malakand.
US ready to provide quake assistance to Pakistan
The United States stands ready to provide support to the government of Pakistan, the White House said.
“The US government has been in touch with the governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan and we stand ready to provide any additional support that may be needed,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a briefing.
In Pakistan, USAID has existing partners who are ready to respond if necessary, Earnest added.