EARTH QUAKE IN BALUCHISTAN

Pakistan — Rescue teams and family members searched frantically for survivors late till midnight, in a string of villages in southwestern Province of Balcochistan in Pakistan where at least 170 people were killed by a powerful earthquake, on Wednesday wee hours.

Thousands of people were left homeless by the predawn temblor in the rural area, where many residents live in mud-brick homes that collapsed with the force of the magnitude 6.4 quake. Authorities said the death toll could rise as rescuers make their way to remote villages that had been cut off by landslides.

Even in good conditions, roads in the area are primitive. Pakistani army helicopters and cargo planes were ferrying in emergency aid, including food, tents and blankets. Medical teams were converging on the scene near the border with Afghanistan, but help arrived too late for some.

President ordered the national and provincial governments as well as the army to swiftly provide all necessary aid. The tremor was yet another challenge for his young government, which is struggling with a flagging economy, repeated clashes with insurgents in the border region, and conflicts with its American allies over U.S. military strikes into Pakistani territory.

The quake, which struck as most people were asleep, was centered about 50 miles northeast of the city of Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s impoverished Baluchistan province. With the chill of winter setting in, many of the survivors lost everything, including warm clothing, in the rubble of their homes.

The area was rocked by a magnitude 6.2 aftershock Wednesday, terrifying thousands of people who were preparing to spend a freezing night in the open.

In some of the hardest-hit villages in Zirat and Pishin districts, entire families were buried in the ruins of mud-brick compounds, and survivors were digging mass graves, using whatever implements they could find.

The death toll is expected to rise as many bodies may be buried under rubbles when the calamity leveled about 2,000 mud-walled houses in northern part of Balochistan province on Wednesday

We are working under banner of NGO dedicated for Baluchistan

The Iqbal Foundation

We are asking for relief goods and donations in shape of material, we do not need cash we need material & men power, we need trucks to transport goods, dry food, grain, warm clothing, tents, drinking water, clothing for children & women.

Please contact us 24/7

Cell number +92 300 2008238

emailto: ahmediqbalbaloch@hotmail.com

Overseas contributors Send your donations to :

Iqbal Foundation.
Account number. 0031-01006865,
Bank Alfalah Ltd, Clifton Branch
SWIFT Code. ALFHPKKA
Karachi – Pakistan