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Earthquake victims confront aftershocks and freezing temperatures November 1, 2008
The Church World Service (CWS)l /Action by Churches Together (ACT)
A Pakistani man sits on the debris of his house destroyed by an earthquake in Ziarat, about 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of Quetta, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. Photo:dawn.net
Update on the Oct. 29/08 earthquake in Balochistan, Pakistan
As of 9:00 a.m. on October 31, 2008, the Pakistan Metrological Department reports 500 aftershocks in the earthquake-affected areas of Balochistan.
Some 74 of these aftershocks are of significant magnitude, ranging from 3.0 to 6.4 on the Richter Scale.
The government and national and international NGOs continue to assess the devastation of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake which occurred at 5:10 a.m. on October 29, 2008. Most coordination and relief operations are based in Quetta; the earthquake and subsequent landslides have left the 60 kilometer road to the worst-affected areas of Ziarat full of cracks and nearly impassable, thus, slowing relief items from reaching the affectees.
With thousands of families left homeless and many others fearful to go indoors due to aftershocks, an immediate concern is the below freezing temperatures at night (0 to -3 degrees Celsius). People, including elderly and young children, remain outdoors without blankets or warm clothes to protect them.
As survivors search the rubble for injured and bury the dead, the fear of imminent death, especially of young children, increases. Reports throughout the affected region indicate fever and other illnesses afflict the survivors. Without immediate shelter, blankets, warm clothes and food, the death toll will continue to rise.
Significant relief has yet to reach major areas in Ziarat, one of the worst affected districts, and many remote villages have received no aid so far.
Assessing the total loss of lives and damage remains a challenge for officials and aid workers because many villages are inaccessible and have been reported to be completely leveled.
Earthquake in Pakistan kills 350 Oct.30 News Release
