Pakistan's earthquake death toll exceeds 300
31/10/2008 17:35
The death toll from the destructive earthquake in Pakistan's southwestern
Balochistan province has crossed 300, the state television reported
today.
Around 40,000 people were displaced and 200 villages were affected in
the earthquake, reported state-run PTV.
The DAWN newspaper reported today
that thousands of earthquake survivors spent another night in open places,
threatened by biting, coldness and hunger.
The Balochistan provincial
government has sent tents, blankets and other relief goods to the affected
areas, but these could not reach a majority of the affected
people.
Meanwhile, aftershocks have made it more difficult for relief
operations. More than 250 aftershocks have been recorded, local newspaper Daily
Times quoted a Meteorological Department official as saying. He said that
aftershocks were likely to continue into next week and fortunately would
decrease in strength.
The chairman of Pakistan's National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA), Farooq Ahmed Khan, has confirmed the destruction of at least
2,000 houses.
The NDMA says 2,000 tents, 5,000 blankets and other supplies
have been dispatched to Balochistan, but poor road conditions have hampered
delivery.
Xinhua
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