Balochistan EQ Sep13 Info Report: 26-09-13 (2000 hrs) 18-09-12 HIGHLIGHTS
As a result of the 7.8 magnitude Earthquake striking Balochistan Province, a significant amount of life and infrastructural losses are being reported. As per NDMA the earthquake has seriously affected Awaran and Kech Districts. Media is highlighting the shortfall of food and affected people sleeping under the open sky as the third day brings a raise in losses. PDMA is reporting 355 deaths and 619 injured.
Govt and Disaster Management Authorities are providing relief services and coordinating the humanitarian services. Armed forces are providing rescue relief as well as medical services.
As an initial plan, PRCS is supporting 7000 EQ affected people with basic emergency shelter, food and essential non food items along with providing free health services. PRCS Teams are on ground. One health team has been heli-dropped to Awaraan and is providing free medical services supporting the district hospital in Awaraan. The team has also taken one month’s medicines kit with them. Non food item kits and basic emergency shelter is being mobilized PHQs Quetta and Sindh for provision to the affected people in need.
BACKGROUND The United States Geological Survey (USGS) stated the magnitude of today’s Balochistan earthquake as 7.8 on the Richter scale. It struck at 16:29 at a depth of 20km (13 miles), 66km north-east of Awaran district in Balochistan province. The USGS issued a Shake map showing the location as well as the intensity of the earthquake. This map is a good indicator of the highly difficult terrain which is causing a serious lapse in assessment time. (Source: http://reliefweb.int/map/pakistan/m-77-southwestern-pakistan-earthquake-24-september-2013)
SITUATION Balochistan Govt. representative stated more than 300,000 people have been affected over a total of six districts - Awaran, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur, Chaghi and Khuzdar. Out of these increasing losses are being reported by Awaran and Kech. The situation on ground as reported by PRCS representative is that these figures will continue to rise as many people are reportedly trapped under rubble and that the security situation as well as difficult geographical terrain is delaying complete access. PRCS team on ground concurs with the media reporting more than 80% damaged houses. The affected areas are mostly composed of mud houses and indeed amongst other issues faced by the city, lack of shelter and dearth of food supplies are proving to be the most unsettling issues for the people.
SUMMARY OF LOSSES AND DAMAGES BALOCHISTAN PDMA Balochistan is reporting the following: PDMA REPORTED LOSSES- 26 Sep 2013 Affected Districts: 6 (Awaran, Turbat, Khuzdar, (16:28) Gwadar, Panjgoar and Chaghi) 700 600 Affected Tehsils: 3 (Tehsil Mashkay, Awaran, 500 and Jhaho, all in district Awaran) 400 300 Deaths: 357 200 100 0 Injuries: 620 Deaths: Injuries: Relief Efforts: Turbat 46 180 Awaran 311 440 The following is being reported by PDMA: Items PDMA NDMA Army Total Tents 3910 5000 90 9000 Food Packets 4060 7000 1212 12,272 Blankets 300 5000 5,300 Plastic Mats 1700 1700 Mosquito Nets 300 300 Jerry Cans 300 300 Water Bottles 3900 3,900
Health: a. Mobile Health Unit b. One Truck of Medicines from MSD Quetta. c. Total: 26 Doctors and 16 Para Medical Staff with 8 Ambulances. d. 5 Doctor with 2 Ambulances from Turbat to Hoshab (Dandar) e. 18 Ambulances from Edhi Foundation. f. 1 Medical team with Medicines from Army
PRCS Response Balochistan From PRCS Balochistan Branch a National Disaster Response Trained member along with trained volunteer from disaster management cell in district Lasbela is in Awaran City and coordinating with local authorities so that further response could be planned. There are extremely limited communication options and its hampering information sharing.
Two disaster response teams (one from PRCS adjoining district Kharan and the other from PRCS adjoining district PRCS Team loading medicines in the helicopter for Gwadar) got delayed due to Awaran. A Health team consisting of two doctors and unavailability of vehicles but will reach two paramedics has been heli-dropped with medicines soon. in Awaran City. Photo: PRCS Sindh PRCS PHQ Quetta has deployed three teams today. Two health teams (1 doctor, 2 paramedics and 1 x ambulance with driver in each team) and one disaster response and coordination team left during the day after the medicines were loaded. The teams will travel round the clock to reach the affected area. The estimated travel time from Quetta to Awaran is 18 to 20 hours.
PRCS Sindh Branch with support of Army helicopter has deployed a medical team in the morning with coordination of NHQ and NDMA in District Awaran. The team is composed of 2 male doctors and 2 paramedics. The team has initially providing support to the District Hospital in Awaran as more than 100 earthquake affected people came in with various injuries and ailments.
As part of the first phase, PRCS is planning to support 7000 EQ affected people with emergency shelter, food rations and essential non food items along with providing free health services. The stocks are ready in Quetta and Karachi and as soon as the teams reach and access to areas is possible, the stocks will be sent out. PRCS held an internal coordination meeting at its National Headquarters and informed all the RC Partners about the situation and initial plan. It has been re-assured that all efforts shall be done to help these most vulnerable.
As per PRCS Branch and PDMA sources, the most urgent needs are of shelter, health care services and essential non food items. Further anticipated needs given the scope of destruction are most likely to be transitional shelters, health and care, food and essential non food items.
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Compiled by: Planning Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Department Pakistan Red Crescent Society Disaster Management Centre: +92-51-9250489