A major earthquake has hit Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and parts of India, with dozens being killed and early reports suggesting it has caused extensive damage in mountainous areas.The magnitude 7.5 quake was centred in the province of Badakhshan in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan’s far north, and occurred at a depth of 130 miles (210km). Pakistan was worst hit with the earthquake leaving about 200 dead so far while injuring thousands other. The federal health ministry has directed concerned provincial health departments to put all public hospitals on high alert and ensure availability of all required medicines, blood bags in hospitals and to cancel leaves of all medical staff. On the other hand the federal minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar has directed the National Health Emergency Response Cell to provide all possible assistance to provincial health departments and relief agencies. In a statistical prediction on its website, the US geological survey said there was a one-third chance of the number of fatalities climbing to between 100 and 1,000 people, with several million dollars’ worth of damage likely caused. Arbab Muhammad Asim, district mayor for Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar, said more than 100 people had been injured there alone. “Many houses and buildings have collapsed in the city,” he said. Rescue 1122 has been put on high alert in Punjab. The disaster response force is on standby and a code red has been imposed, Director General Rescue Punjab Retd Brig Dr Ashraf Zia said. Rescue 1122 Spokesman Jam Sajjad said there were no reports of any deaths in Lahore.
pk.shafaqna.com
