Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KARACHI589
2008-10-29 17:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:
BALOCHISTAN - DEADLY EARTHQUAKE STRIKES RURAL AREAS
how-toVZCZCXRO8291 RR RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHKP #0589 3031700 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 291700Z OCT 08 FM AMCONSUL KARACHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0737 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0203 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 2601 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4484 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS KARACHI 000589
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV PK
SUBJECT: BALOCHISTAN - DEADLY EARTHQUAKE STRIKES RURAL AREAS
UNCLAS KARACHI 000589
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV PK
SUBJECT: BALOCHISTAN - DEADLY EARTHQUAKE STRIKES RURAL AREAS
1. (SBU) Summary: A series of earthquakes struck districts in
northern Balochistan on the morning of October 29. While very
little concrete information is available at this point, media
reports indicate that at least 160 have been left dead while
District officials estimate some 300 to be injured and 15,000
homeless. So far, Ziarat District appears to have been the hardest
hit. The provincial capital, Quetta, located approximately 100
kilometers south, received minimal damage with no reported
casualties. An NGO worker said landslides had destroyed roads,
hampering rescue operations. The Ziarat District Nazim cited an
immediate need for medicine, tents, and food and said many were now
without shelter from the cold. He has requested a helicopter from
the provincial government to use in search and rescue operations. A
Frontier Corps (FC) commander said FC troops had been shifted to
Ziarat District to aid with rescue operations. End summary.
2. (SBU) An earthquake, reported to be around 6.4 on the Richter
Scale, struck villages in the Ziarat District in northern
Balochistan province around 4:30 a.m. on October 29. Several after
shocks have also been reported and are expected to continue. The
District Nazim, Delawar Khan Kakar, told Post on October 29 that the
death toll in the district currently stands at 135, with at least
200 people reported injured, many from the collapse of mud-walled
homes. (Note: At least one media source has reported 160 deaths so
far. That number is expected to increase as more information is
received. End note.) He estimated that around 15,000 people have
been left homeless and said many residents, throughout the affected
areas, are afraid to return to their homes. (Comment: Post has not
been able to confirm the number of homeless. End comment.) A team
consisting of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA),
United Nations organizations and several NGO's have commenced a
comprehensive assessment of the damage, as at this stage it is
difficult to ascertain the extent of the effects.
3. (SBU) Media reports stated that the quake damaged between eight
and ten villages in the district, located approximately 100
kilometers north of the provincial capital, Quetta, which also
reportedly sustained some damage. However, Quetta City Nazim
(Mayor) Mir Maqbool Ahmed Lehri did not have any reports of
casualties in the city. Pashin, Killabdullah, Sibi, and Naseerabad
districts were also affected. Five people have been reported killed
in Pashin and two in Naseerabad. A number of homes have been
damaged.
Plea for Help
--------------
4. (SBU) Kaker said that his Ziarat District Government has
started rescue activities and cited a dire need for medicine, tents
and food. He said he was concerned about children who no longer had
shelter from the cold weather in the mountains, one of the coldest
areas of Balochistan. Kaker has requested use of a helicopter from
the provincial government for search and rescue operations. In the
meantime, relief organizations, several supported by the US
government, stand ready to respond to the needs as they are
uncovered by the joint assessment.
Rescue Operations Hampered
--------------
5. (SBU) Meanwhile, Sadullah Dotani, an NGO worker for the Ziarat
Development Society, told Post that although there is no lack of
volunteers for the rescue missions, land slides had destroyed roads,
preventing rescue teams from reaching the remote areas. A local
physician, Doctor Inayatullah, reported that 30 injured people had
been shifted to Quetta and others are under treatment. He said the
district lacks sufficient medical expertise to deal with the
injured.
Frontier Corps Moving In
--------------
6. (SBU) Major General Saleem Nawaz Khan, Inspector General of the
Frontier Corps (FC),told a television reporter that FC forces in
Pashin District of Balochistan have shifted to Ziarat to assist with
rescue operations. He added that the FC plans to begin delivering
supplies such as food and clothing by evening.
Anske
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV PK
SUBJECT: BALOCHISTAN - DEADLY EARTHQUAKE STRIKES RURAL AREAS
1. (SBU) Summary: A series of earthquakes struck districts in
northern Balochistan on the morning of October 29. While very
little concrete information is available at this point, media
reports indicate that at least 160 have been left dead while
District officials estimate some 300 to be injured and 15,000
homeless. So far, Ziarat District appears to have been the hardest
hit. The provincial capital, Quetta, located approximately 100
kilometers south, received minimal damage with no reported
casualties. An NGO worker said landslides had destroyed roads,
hampering rescue operations. The Ziarat District Nazim cited an
immediate need for medicine, tents, and food and said many were now
without shelter from the cold. He has requested a helicopter from
the provincial government to use in search and rescue operations. A
Frontier Corps (FC) commander said FC troops had been shifted to
Ziarat District to aid with rescue operations. End summary.
2. (SBU) An earthquake, reported to be around 6.4 on the Richter
Scale, struck villages in the Ziarat District in northern
Balochistan province around 4:30 a.m. on October 29. Several after
shocks have also been reported and are expected to continue. The
District Nazim, Delawar Khan Kakar, told Post on October 29 that the
death toll in the district currently stands at 135, with at least
200 people reported injured, many from the collapse of mud-walled
homes. (Note: At least one media source has reported 160 deaths so
far. That number is expected to increase as more information is
received. End note.) He estimated that around 15,000 people have
been left homeless and said many residents, throughout the affected
areas, are afraid to return to their homes. (Comment: Post has not
been able to confirm the number of homeless. End comment.) A team
consisting of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA),
United Nations organizations and several NGO's have commenced a
comprehensive assessment of the damage, as at this stage it is
difficult to ascertain the extent of the effects.
3. (SBU) Media reports stated that the quake damaged between eight
and ten villages in the district, located approximately 100
kilometers north of the provincial capital, Quetta, which also
reportedly sustained some damage. However, Quetta City Nazim
(Mayor) Mir Maqbool Ahmed Lehri did not have any reports of
casualties in the city. Pashin, Killabdullah, Sibi, and Naseerabad
districts were also affected. Five people have been reported killed
in Pashin and two in Naseerabad. A number of homes have been
damaged.
Plea for Help
--------------
4. (SBU) Kaker said that his Ziarat District Government has
started rescue activities and cited a dire need for medicine, tents
and food. He said he was concerned about children who no longer had
shelter from the cold weather in the mountains, one of the coldest
areas of Balochistan. Kaker has requested use of a helicopter from
the provincial government for search and rescue operations. In the
meantime, relief organizations, several supported by the US
government, stand ready to respond to the needs as they are
uncovered by the joint assessment.
Rescue Operations Hampered
--------------
5. (SBU) Meanwhile, Sadullah Dotani, an NGO worker for the Ziarat
Development Society, told Post that although there is no lack of
volunteers for the rescue missions, land slides had destroyed roads,
preventing rescue teams from reaching the remote areas. A local
physician, Doctor Inayatullah, reported that 30 injured people had
been shifted to Quetta and others are under treatment. He said the
district lacks sufficient medical expertise to deal with the
injured.
Frontier Corps Moving In
--------------
6. (SBU) Major General Saleem Nawaz Khan, Inspector General of the
Frontier Corps (FC),told a television reporter that FC forces in
Pashin District of Balochistan have shifted to Ziarat to assist with
rescue operations. He added that the FC plans to begin delivering
supplies such as food and clothing by evening.
Anske