Mags GarganIrish missionaries working in Pakistan have said they fear the death toll will significantly rise in the country following a devastating earthquake.
The 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the mountainous area on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday. “Snows have come early this year so logistically it will be a very difficult rescue and relief job,” Fr Tomás King SSC said. At the time of going to press the death toll was more than 300, mostly in Pakistan, but Fr King said “this will increase as remotes places are reached and rescue work is done”.
“It is just 10 years this month since the last big earthquake hit, in much the same part of the country, so people who were affected 10 years ago were in a panic.”
Fr Liam O’Callaghan SSC, based in Lahore, said “it is still very early and the fear is that the news will be worse as the time goes on and things become a little clearer”.
“The epicentre occurred in a very remote area of the country so it will take some days before the scale emerges and I suspect the death toll and damage will be much higher.”
Trócaire has committed an initial €400,000 to support communities impacted by the earthquake through the distribution of shelter, food and other vital supplies.