Balochistan: violent earthquake overnight, at least 160 dead <http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13609>http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13609
by Qaiser Felix
An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck the southwestern province in
Pakistan, destroying hundreds of homes in cities and villages in the
area. Experts predict more aftershocks, while aid teams are looking
for survivors. The Catholic Church of Quetta organizes a fund drive
for the victims.
Emacs!
Islamabad (AsiaNews) - The initial death toll is 160 in the magnitude
6.4 earthquake that struck the province of Balochistan in southwest
Pakistan, on the border with Afghanistan.
The epicenter is an area 60 kilometers northeast of Quetta, 10
kilometers below the surface. The first violent quake was recorded by
scientists of the U.S geological survey at 4:33 local time; experts
warn that over the next 48 hours, there could be further aftershocks.
The deaths include a number of women and children, buried under the
rubble of collapsed buildings; aid teams, composed of soldiers and
local public security officers, report that dozens of people are
still trapped under the debris, and the number of deaths could rise
over the next few hours. Most of the damage was seen in the district
of Ziarat, but other cities and villages have been seriously damaged:
these include Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Loralai, Sibbi, and
Mastung. "Hundreds of mud houses have collapsed," says Ziarat
district chief Dilawar Khan." We are using whatever resources we have
to help the people and have asked for help from the provincial
government." He also says that "there is a large number of injured
people but we don't have an exact figure."
Speaking to AsiaNews by telephone from his office in Quetta, Ambrose
John Francis - a former member of the provincial assembly of
Balochistan - says that "we were sleeping when we felt the first
jolt, but it was a minor one. But the second one was massive, and a
picture from the wall fell on me." The Catholic ex-parliamentarian
says "we were all terrified and ran out of our houses."
Asghar Ghauri, also from Quetta, says that the second shock was so
strong that "it shook our beds severely. We immediately started
praying and calling other relatives. Thank God in Quetta we are all
safe, but we heard that in many other areas people lost their lives."
The government has declared a state of emergency, and has alerted all
the hospitals in the area, which have already admitted dozens of
injured people, some of whom are in critical condition. Fr. Maqsood
Nazir, youth director for the Quetta prefecture, tells AsiaNews that
this evening the rosary will be recited and a Mass will be celebrated
for the earthquake victims. "We will also start our donation campaign
for the quake victims after Mass, and within the next couple of days,
after getting complete information on the damage, we will go in the
affected areas for distribution."
<*}}}>< <http://halfthekingdom.mofuse.mobi/>Half the Kingdom!
on your Mobile <*}}}><
<*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/wordpress/>Half the Kingdom!
Blog <*}}}><
<*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom! Main Site
<*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/by-the-by/>Half the
Kingdom! By the by <*}}}><
Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue
with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Catholics on Fire" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire
May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
<<attachment: 26ba2f.jpg>>
