Earthquake Situation Update 3 (14:30, 25 September 2013 )
The deadliest earthquake of 2013 is crossing the record of fatalities by earthquakes in this year and death toll has touched the figure of 283 and feared to increase in coming hours while 400 have been reported seriously injured, estimated 40 thousands houses have also been collapsed, according to USGS updates. Village wise data has also been started coming from the ground. So far SPO managed to retrieve initial damage assessment report of 11 villages of all three tehsils of the district. The total death toll is 211 and number of damaged houses is 10400 only in 11 villages, local organization said. Affected population in dire need of medicines, medical assistance, shelter, food, clean drinking water and NFIs. Affected area is still receiving aftershocks with varying intensity and magnitude. These aftershocks are adding damages to the vulnerable and shaken structures in rural and urban areas of the districts. According to Mr. Qudus Bazinjo, deputy speaker of Balochistan Assembly, 90% of rural and 50% of urban areas of the districts have ravaged by the deadliest earthquake. Today SPO dispatched a team of 3 staff members in the area for developing an initial damage assessment report with the help of local organizations.
Earthquake Situation Update 4 (23:00, 25 September 2013 )
The death toll is rising as it was expected, the count has reached the mark of 350 and hundreds of injured reported according the USGS updates. 20 bodies of students recovered from a religious seminary in district Awaran. According to NDMA the number of causalities in Kech district is also on the rise with reporting 43 deaths and 73 seriously injured. According to PDMA estimates, tentatively 21000 families are affected and similar number of houses has been damaged only in Awaran district. The damages of Kech district yet to be included in these estimates thus the number expected to increase in coming hours. NDMA has placed 5000 tents at the disposal of PDMA Balochistan and mobilized some resources to send 7000 food packs for the affected families of Awaran and Kech districts, said in a press release issued by NDMA on 25th of September 2013. PDMA Balochistan organized a meeting at 03:00pm in its office in Quetta, NHN representatives and other civil society organizations participated in the meeting. According to the press release of PDMA, 2600 tents, 1700 food bags, 300 jerry cans, 1700 plastic mats and other relief assistance have been dispatched to the affected districts. 8 Ambulances, 26 doctors, 16 paramedical staff and a truck of medicines and medical aid have also been sent for providing quick medical assistance to injured persons. 80% of the total mud houses in the district have been damaged or completely collapsed. Communication and road infrastructure has also been badly damaged in the area and majority of rural areas are inaccessible.
Earthquake Situation Update 7 (12:00, 01 October 2013 )
International media, government and local sources are reporting contradictive number of deaths in 24th September earthquake. According the NDMA, total death toll is 375, Reuters reported 515 and a careful estimation of local sources[i] indicate the death toll will rise in coming days and may cross one thousand. Estimated of directly affected families have reached to 37000 (32000 in Awaran and 5000 in Kech) while the number of affected population has reached to 185000 people. Awaran Disaster Response Forum decided to act as a local coordination body so that duplication of efforts and wastage of resources can be avoided and decided to meet on daily basis at 19:00pm in Awaran City. Field office of SPO is sharing the data of rapid assessment of 4 UCs (Teertaj, Ghiskor, Pawar, Awaran) of tehsil Awaran, data showed significant damages in the area and total 11112 houses have been completely or partly damaged. UC Dandar of Kech district is situated 145 Km in north east of Turbat city and SPO is the first organization that approached the area and captured a snapshot of the damaged done so far. In Dandar UC of district Kech, there are 24 villages and number of affected population is 5442. 41 deaths and 177 persons with compound injuries and fractured bones were also recorded during the assessment. Affected population is forced live in the open, shelter/tents, food, NFI and medical assistance are the immediate needs. __________________________ [i]Awaran Disaster Response Forum (ADRF)
Earthquake Situation Update 1 (08:15pm, 24 September 2013)
An earthquake of 7.8 magnitude hit south eastern and coastal districts of Balochistan around 04:30pm on 24th of September 2013. The epic center was south west of Khuzdar district and it was 23 deep kilometers in the ground. District Awaran is the most affected district where almost 50% of the mud houses in the city have been collapsed and a town of DHALBEIDI has been completed flattened to the ground level. So far 100 injured person are under treatment at DHQ hospital of Awaran and 18 have been reported dead, according the hospital sources. Overall death toll is expected to rise as scores have been buried alive under the debris of collapsed houses and other buildings. FC troops have been reached Awaran city for search and evacuation of the injured buried under the collapsed houses and other buildings. 4 Medical doctors are struggling to provide medical aid because of high numbers of injured persons being brought to the hospital, local sources said. (Mr Yar Jan 0333-7993042)
Monsoon Update 9 (13:30, 26 August 2013)
Recent monsoons caused heavy losses and damages to infrastructure, livelihoods and human life in Pakistan. Death toll has touched 169 mark while 855 persons have been reported injured in various incidents. The affected population is touching alarmingly high numbers around 1.419 million across Pakistan and it is expected to be on the further higher side once the information is properly accumulated. Total 46619 houses have been fully/partially damaged due to heavy rains and flooding in urban and rural areas. River Indus is flowing at medium-high level floods at Sukkur and River Ravi is flowing on the same flooding level at Sidhnai head works and River Chenab is carrying high flood water at Panjnad. Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) issued significant flood warning in River Indus at Sukkur and Guddu during 21-22 August 2013 about possibility of 600-650 thousand cusecs discharge of water in the river. All other rivers are flowing at normal to low flood levels in KPK, Punjab and Sindh. Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) forecasted mainly hot & humid weather in most parts of the country. However, rain-thundershower is expected at isolated places of Kashmir and adjoining hilly areas.
Monsoon Update 8 (12:00, 15 August 2013)
PMD has issued significant flash flood warning in hill torrents and Nullahs of DG Khan and Eastern Balochistan for next 2-3 days. The warning includes that exceptionally high flood is expected in rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab for next 24-48 hours. All SPO Emergency Focal Persons are requested to be vigilant about the emerging situation in their respective regions and immediately report to NC. The weather forecast of heavy rains on central and southern parts of country has also been issued by PMD. Seasonal low lies over Balochistan and adjoining areas and strong Monsoon currents are continuously penetrating into Southern and Northeastern parts of the country. According to the media reports, around 500,000 cusecs water discharged is expected at Head Khanki in River Chenab. In Wazirabad Tehsil of Gujranwala district, river water entered the villages situated on left bank of the river and authorities are evacuating the low lying villages since last night. The death toll in rain related incidents is constantly increasing and has touched the mark of 93 across the country. The number of directly affected population is also increasing and reaches to 84272 and figures from Balochistan, FATA and Kashmir yet to be incorporated in the damage assessment report released by NDMA on 14th of August 2013.
Monsoon Update: 7 (16:30, 12 August 2013)
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued severe weather even warning for the Flash Floods in vulnerable districts of Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, D.G Khan, D.I Khan, Zhob, Sibbi, Naseerabad Divisions and Kashmir for next 48-72 hours. All SPO regional offices, local partners and civil society networks remain vigilant for emerging disastrous situations in aforementioned districts. For next 24 hours, PMD has forecasted rain thundershowers in scattered places of Punjab, Upper KP while at isolated places of north Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan. Maximum rainfall 60mm was recorded at Noorpur Thul (Khushab district) during last 24 hours. According to the media reports heavy rains at the Koh-e-Suleman mountainous range last night, flooding occurred in the rivers and nullas of Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa and Rajanpur, however, the details of damage are awaited so far. India released around 90 cusecs waters in River Sutlej from Ganda Singh head works that created emergency situation in Kasoor district especially for 40-45 villages of low lying area situated around the abandoned river. District authorities are evacuating the villages as water level is rising and has already touching the alarming level. The death toll has touched the 83 mark because of monsoon spell started from 2nd of August. The total affected population is estimated 84272 across the country according the damage assessment report issued by NDMA which is inconclusive as data from Balochistan and Sindh is being gathered and yet to incorporate. SPO distributed food packs among affected population of Fatehpur union council of tehsil Rajanpur on 8th of August 2013. 200 families benefited from the distribution and thousands are still awaiting the relief assistance as Rajanpur has been declared calamity hit district in Punjab.
Monsoon Update 6: (22:00, 7 August 2013)
Rain thunderstorms are expected at scattered places of upper Punjab and upper KP. Heavy rain falls are also expected at few places of Kashmir, Hazara, Lahore, Gujranwala and Sargodha division which may cause heavy runoff water discharge in rain nullahs. River Indus is flowing in Medium Flood in Chashma-Taunsa reach and Low Flood at Tarbela, Kalabagh & Guddu Barrage, whereas River Kabul is at Medium Flood Stage in Warsak-Nowshera reach. River Chenab is also flowing in Low Flood in Khanki-Qadirabad reach with rising trend. Other main rivers i.e. Jhelum, Ravi & Sutlej are flowing normal. Last week’s heavy rain falls caused damages to life, private and public infrastructure, livelihoods and communication means. The total death toll has rose up to 58 across all the provinces and Gilgit Baltistan. PDMAs have started relief operations and so far distributed 14800 tents in four provinces; only 5000 tents have been distributed among flood affected population of Rajanpur district in Punjab. Today, SPO distributed (Quetta Office) staple food packs of worth 350,000/- PKRs among 100 flood affected families of Naseerabad living on the roadside of Notal area. Tomorrow SPO Multan is going to distribute 200 staple food packs among 200 flood affected families of UC Fatehpur of tehsil and district Rajanpur.
Monsoon Update 1: (01:40am, 03 August 2013 )
Various parts of Pakistan are under low pressure which caused strong monsoon currents and receiving heavy thundershowers. Today (02 August 2013) 89mm rainfall was recorded in Sialkot. Meteorological department of Pakistan issued warning of heavy rainfall at scattered places of Nasirabad, Zhob and Qalat divisions of Balochistan district which may cause flash floods in local streams f low lying and vulnerable areas. Despite the heavy rains in scattered places of the country, all the rivers are flowing from normal to low flood level except River Kabul that is flowing at Medium level flood in Warsuk-Naushera reach. Commissioner of Peshawar city had declared emergency in Hayatabat and Regi areas of the city. Road link between Peshawar and Charsada districts has been cut off due to high flooding in Badinhi Nullah. The high discharge of rain water from Khyber agency is causing flooding in local streams and adjoining areas of Peshawa city are advised to remain cautious. Pak Army has been called for search and rescue of inundated families in Peshawar by the time of filling this situation update. Deputy commission Chitral district reported 3 deaths, 40 houses fully collapsed, 4 bridges have been wiped out as well drainage and water systems have also been damaged in various parts of the district. According to the media reports (Geo News) flood water has been entered in police line area of District Loralai that played havoc with office buildings and police barracks, further details are yet to come.