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Pakistan

Pakistan - Earthquake (MDRPK012): DREF Operation 1

Attachments

A. Situation analysis

Description of Disaster

At 14:09h local time on 26 October 2015, an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck North West Pakistan. The epicenter of the quake was in neighbouring Afghanistan in a remote part of the Hindukush mountain range at a depth of 212.5 km.

The tremor was felt in Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of northern India.

The extent of the damage and losses is not yet known, but preliminary reports from the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) indicate 272 deaths, 2,152 people injured and 25,367 houses damaged across the country. The table at right sourced from NDMA details the most recent statistics available at this time .

The districts of Malakad, Chitral, Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Torghar, Swat, and Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province are described as being the worst affected.

Preliminary reports from PRC assessment teams deployed to affected areas in KP indicate an estimated 400 fully damaged houses in Tor Ghar, 150 in Chitral and 400 in Dir. Gilgit Baltistan (GB), and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have also been affected. There are reports of damaged houses. Most of the deaths and injuries are attributed to collapsed roofs and walls. Aftershocks of varying intensity are expected over the coming days.

Mobile networks are, for the most part, restored. Surveys of bridges and other critical infrastructure are being undertaken. Information regarding the extent of the damage and losses continues to be compiled as reports from more remote areas are being received.

A UNOCHA Flash Update published on 28 October indicated that heavy rains are expected in the next week in Northern Pakistan and the earthquake affected areas. As such, shelter, winterization, emergency health services, and water and sanitation support will be among the most immediate needs .