Earthquake: Death Toll Reaches to 200 in Pakistan

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

A scene of crashing glacier in Hunza on Monday after an earthquake of over 7.7 magnitude on richter scale hit South Asia.

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck major cities of Pakistan, including the northern areas on Monday, leaving at least 200 dead and scores injured due to building collapses, landslides and stampedes.

The earthquake struck the country at 2:09pm today (Monday).

The death toll could climb in the coming days because communications are down in much of the remote mountainous region.

Commissioner Malakand Division Usman told DawnNews that 137 people were killed in Malakand which comprises Swat, Upper and Lower Dir , Chitral, Shangla and Buner areas.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed to send 2,000 tents to earthquake affected areas.

An MI-17 helicopter was also placed at the disposal of KP government to carry out relief efforts.

“A nine-bed mobile hospital with team of surgeons will be dispatched to Dir immediately,” read a statement issued by Pakistan PM House.

Around 1,076 people were injured in incidents of roof and wall collapses mostly in the remote mountainous areas

The United States stands ready to provide support to the government of Pakistan, the White House said.

“The US government has been in touch with the governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan and we stand ready to provide any additional support that may be needed,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a briefing.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and expressed condolences over the lives lost in the earthquake. He also offered assistance and cooperation to Pakistan in this hour of need.

Earlier, the Indian premier had contacted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and shared initial damage assessment with him. (Dawn News)

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