Thousands killed in South Asia quake

October 9, 2005
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Thousands of people have been killed in Pakistan and India in a major earthquake that hit bordering area of the two South Asian countries Saturday morning.

Latest reports say that casualty could be as high as 16,000 dead though officials are yet to confirm casualty figures. The quake, measuring 7.6 in Richter scale, reduced villages to rubbles, triggered landslides and flattened an apartment building in Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

The epicenter of quake was some 60 miles northeast of Islamabad in the forested mountains of Pakistani Kashmir. AP news agency quoted spokesman of the Pakistani army Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan as saying that it was a national tragedy. This was the worst earthquake in recent times, he said. A Pakistani official said at least 1,000 people were killed in Pakistani Kashmir.

The government of Pakistan has mobilized military and civilian apparatus to conduct rescue efforts in the affected areas. Countries around the world have offered help to victims in Pakistan and India.

Tremors were felt in Afghanistan and Mahottrai and Dhanusha districts in southern Nepal. But there were no immediate reports of casualties. Official RSS news agency quoted Prahlad Khadka, an official at the Royal Nepalese embassy in Islamabad, as saying that he had not received any report of Nepalis falling victim to the quake by late Saturday.

Experts say Nepal lies in the high seismic zone and that a major earthquake is overdue in this part of this world.