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Photos of the story
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| Pakistani rescue-workers pull an
injured man out of a collapsed building. |
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Pakistan government
said Sunday that at least 19,136 people died in Saturday's massive earthquake
that struck a large area of South Asia including Pakistan, India and
Afghanistan.
More than 42,000 people were injured in the 7.6
magnitude quake, which epicentered in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.
"It is such a horrendous situation that one cannot
imagine," Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told a news conference in Islamabad,
capital of Pakistan.
Sherpao said at least 19,136 people had been killed
and 42,397 people had been injured. "Casualties are increasing by the hour," he
added.
Earlier, a regional minister said that an estimated
30,000 people were killed in the powerful earthquake in the Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir.
President Pervez Musharraf called for international
assistance in the aftermath of a While Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf
Sunday called for international assistance in the aftermath of a major
earthquake, countries across the world rushed aid and reliefto the earthquake
victims in three South Asian countries.
"We do seek international assistance, we have enough
manpower but we need financial support so that we may utilize in a requiredway
to cope with the tragedy," Musharraf said.
He also said that there is a need for large supplies
of medicines, tents and cargo helicopters to reach out to the people in
far-flung and cut-off areas.
On Sunday, a Chinese rescue team was sent to Pakistan
with search dogs and 17 tons of equipment. The 49-member team also includes
rescue personnel, medical staff and seismological experts.
Australia said on Sunday that Australia has provided
500,000 Australian dollars (380,000 US dollars) in immediate medical and relief
assistance to the earthquake-hit South Asian countries. Themoney will be
channeled through the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that Tokyo had
sent a 50-strong emergency relief team to Pakistan. The team, formed by disaster
rescue experts from firefighting, police and coast guard organizations, included
police, disaster management and coast guard specialists. They will be engaged in
search and rescue operations as well as information gathering.
The Japanese Red Cross was also sending four medical
specialists to Islamabad as an advance team to investigate the extent of the
damage caused by the quake.
The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Chairman
Nordin AbdulRazak said the society will send a team to Pakistan to assist
earthquake victims. The 12-member team, consisting of four doctorsand eight
relief workers, is expected to leave for Pakistan late Sunday.
In Britain, the government said it was sending an
initial allocation of 100,000 pounds (176,000 US dollars) to Pakistani
authorities.
Search and rescue teams from four firefighting forces
across Britain were also headed to the region and Defense Secretary John Reid
said British troops in Afghanistan were "ready to assist if required."
Meanwhile, the European Union said it had set aside
three million euros (3.6 million US dollars) for the relief effort.
France was sending sniffer dogs and cutting gear,
while the Irish government said it would provide 1 million euros to the relief
effort.
The United States was also swift to offer help. US President George W. Bush said Washington was already mobilizing teams of experts to help earthquake-hit victims in South Asia and also made available 100,000 dollars in immediate emergency aid. Enditem
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