More than 7 100 homes and 200 vehicles were destroyed after M5.9 (EMSC) earthquake hit Pakistan at 11:01 UTC (16:01 local time) on September 24, 2019. The incident took lives of at least 40 people while 1 600 others suffered injuries. The districts of Bhimber, Mirpur, and Jhelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab were the worst affected.
The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles), with the epicenter lying 1 km (0.6 miles) southeast of Mirpur and Azad, Jammu and Kashmir.
Massive 5.7 earthquake causes significant damage in Azad Kashmir. #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/UP6hgunKes
— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) September 24, 2019
#PrayForPakistan there are likely chances of aftershocks for the next 24 hours due to the earthquake in pakistan. keep everyone in ur prayers pic.twitter.com/5tNav4EYYU
— (ma)lyca (@malikaaaaaaaa__) September 24, 2019
Around 9 000 households have been affected by the catastrophic event. Out of the 7 100 ravaged homes, 1 000 were in Mirpur solely. The number of deaths, injuries, and affected families is feared to rise in the following days as the official report is still being conducted.
Authorities have declared emergency in all hospitals of Mirpur.
A first aid team was deployed to the affected areas, including nine doctors and three paramedics with three ambulances and 200 medicines and surgical kits.
Aside from damages in residential properties, infrastructures including roads, mobile phone towers, and electric poles were also affected. The main road in Mirpur along the Jatlan Canal was badly hit.
Damage to roads in AJK in Pakistan after the 5.8 magnitude earthquake just under an hour ago - epicentre is 1 km SE of New Mirpur
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) September 24, 2019
These pics are from that area pic.twitter.com/L1LEIQ5Nhc
This is some of the devastation left from the recent Earthquake in Pakistan please pray for them and give what you can today https://t.co/Nr8wJqPraj thank you pic.twitter.com/UVWBPgnIzT
— Progressive Life Centre Org (@org_progressive) October 3, 2019
The National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) was activated following the event to accommodate queries from victims.
The District Administration, NDMA, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), National Police Bureau, Pakistan Armed Forces, and Civil Defense are currently focusing on search and rescue operations.
Relief aid and items have been given, including 5 030 tents, 6 700 blankets and quilts, 200 hygiene kits, 5 475 ration packs, and 50 000 water bottles. Community World Service Asia (CWSA) plans to access the ACT Alliance's Rapid Response Fund to provide further needs.
Featured image credit: Progressive Life Centre Org
