Earthquake of October 8th, 2005

The October 8th 2005 with 3:50 UTC took place in the east of Srinagar, the Indian Cachemire, close to the border between the India and the Pakistan, in the North-East of Islamabad a Séisme of a magnitude of 7,6 according to the American geological Institut and the Domestic network of seismic monitoring of Strasbourg and 7,8 according to the Japanese meteorological agency.

The earthquake struck mainly the north of the India, the Pakistan and the Afghanistan.

Testimonys coming from the three countries let fear a very high number of victims: One estimated it at October 11th, 2005, between 30 000 with 40 000, with November 1st, the provisional appraisal with exceeded the 75 000.

Characteristics of the seism

The southern face of the the Himalayas is marked by a major Faille (Chevauchement) which absorbs a big part (about 2cm/an) of this convergence. This overlapping limits to north the plain of the Gange, very populated, and is responsible for many destroying seisms. Seisms comparable with that of October 8th are documented throughout the Himalayan face overlapping. For example: 1905 with approximately 500km with the SE of Hazara (seism of Kangra, magnitude 7,8 to 8, approximately 20.000 victims); 1934 (Is Nepal, magnitude 8,1, approximately 10.000 victims);

Chronology

To limit confusions, the hours indicated here are French (CEST = UTC +2)

Foot-note : The local times of the countries concerned are: in Afghanistan UTC + 4:30, with the Pakistan UTC + 5 hours, in India UTC + 5:30, in China UTC + 8 hours.

October 8th, 2005

6:5: a violent one Earthquake shakes the Pakistan, the Afghanistan and the India. With Islamabad, the buildings trembled and the walls oscillated during approximately a minute. Light counterparts occur shortly after.
6:40: The Séisme is a magnitude of 6,8, according to according to the Indian weather services .
6:50: The seism was a magnitude of 7,6 on the scale of Richter, announces the American national Geological Institut.
6:55: The seism was a magnitude of 7,6 on the scale of Richter, according to the seismologists Japan board.
7 hours: The seism made extensive damage and probably victims, according to persons in charge Pakistani and testimonys.
7:05: The two upper floors of a residential building collapse, making an unspecified number of victims.
7:30: According to the seismic domestic network of monitoring of Strasbourg, the seism is a magnitude of 7,6 on the scale of Richter, and its epicentre is located at the east of Srinagar (Indian Cachemire).
7:30: The seism entirely destroyed a village in the part Pakistan ease of the Cashmere, announces a military spokesman.
7:45: At least two children were killed in Afghanistan and of the destroyed houses, a person in charge indicates to Jalalabad, in the east of the country.
8:30: A Pakistani person in charge of the services of safety indicates that there are several tens of people killed in the north of the Pakistan.
8:50: One learns that a seism a magnitude of 5,8 on the scale of Richter was felt in the province Indonesia of Aceh (Northern of Sumatra), towards 11:30 local time (06. 30 with Paris).
9:10: The Pakistani television channel Geo gives a report on the possible death of 25 people in a locality of the Pakistani cashmere.
9:35: One learns from military source that fifteen Indian soldiers were killed and several others wounded with the Indian Cashmere.
9:35: A Pakistani governmental leader speaks about " damage massifs".
10:30: The assessment " could reach a hundred morts" , according to the chief of the Pakistani crisis cell.
10:35: Thirty and one people at least of which fifteen soldiers and sixteen civilians, were killed and more than 300 others wounded with the Indian Cashmere, according to Indian official sources.
11:15: Some 25 people would have died in the collapse of a court in the north of Pakistan and ten others were killed in two schools in the same area, according to the Pakistani police force.
11:20: More than thousand probable deaths in Pakistan, according to a military spokesman.
12:20: At least 157 people were killed with the Indian Cashmere indicates an Indian governmental leader.
12:40: At least 250 people were killed with Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Cachemire under administration Pakistan ease indicates a person in charge of the government.
12:50: Strong counterparts of the seism were felt with Islamabad, causing movements of panic in the population.
13 hours: The European commission proposes an emergency aid going up to three million euros to the disaster victims of the earthquake.
13:45: At least 157 died in the North-West of the India, with the Cashmere and Jammu, according to a person in charge of the Indian government.
13:50: " In the total context, (this seism) is a test for us all, for the very whole nation and I am sure that we will be able to make face" there; declare the president Pakistan board Pervez Musharraf.
14:15: " We are ready to make any kind of aide" , declares the Minister Turkish for the Foreign affairs Abdullah Gul, it adds that it is a " devoir" for the Turkey to come to assistance of the disaster victims of Pakistan " country frère".
14:20: The Germany resolves 50.000 euros of emergency aid to the Pakistan. The sum will be paid by the embassy of Germany with Islamabad, according to the German Minister for the Foreign affairs Joschka Fischer. This last also announces the next co-operation of the German Croix-Rouge with the Pakistani Red Crescent.
14:30: At least 178 people, whose 21 soldiers were killed with the Indian Cachemire, according to the Indian government.
14:30: There would be several thousands of died in the Pakistan, according to the spokesperson of the Pakistani armed forces.
14:55: The Greek minister of the Foreign affairs proposes team sending of rescuers belonging to the special forces of fight against the natural disasters.
14:55: More than 500 people were killed in several districts of the Province Border of the North-West of the Pakistan, according to an officer of the local police.
15 hours: The Pakistani official sources confirm the assessment which makes state of more than thousand died in the country.
15:5: More than 1.700 people were wounded, in certain districts of the Province Border of the North-West of Pakistan, according to the chief of the provincial police force. The assessment could be weighed down.
15:15: The Greek minister of the Law and order announces the carryforward of a quadripartite meeting with the Turkey, the Iran and the Pakistan, initially envisaged Monday because " the Pakistani minister for the Interior will not be able there assister".
15:30: London offers its assistance to the government Pakistan board and is declared lends to answer " all demandes" of Islamabad. Jack Straw the British minister of the Foreign affairs declares " sad of the consequences of the seism in Pakistan (…), the more so as from many British of Pakistani origin come from the affected regions or have famille" there;.
17 hours: At least 237 people, including 36 soldiers, were killed with the Indian Cachemire (the North-West) according to a new established assessment of police source.
17 hours: The government Irish promises a help of a million euros in Pakistan. The Irish Minister for the Development and the international cooperation insists on the " consequences dévastatrices" seism and on the " immediate needs out of water, food, tents, clothing and other objects of first nécessité".
17:20: The general secretary of UNO Kofi Annan presents " its sincere condolences with all the victims and their familles". " The office of UNO for the coordination of humanitarian associations (...) considers all the means of coming to assistance of the victims and of taking part in the reconstruction".
18:20: Nearly 300 people were killed with the Indian Cachemire, according to the Indian Minister for Information S. Jaipal Reddy.
18:30: A plane lent by the Suisse and chartered by the office of UNO (the OCHA) took off in end according to midday of Geneva for Islamabad to coordinate the humanitarian aid in the stricken regions.
18:35: More than 1.800 people were killed in Asia of South-east according to persons in charge Pakistani.
18:50: Twenty-five soldiers of the Civil security will leave the France for Islamabad, announces the Civil security, and this, " with the demande" of the Minister of Interior Department Nicolas Sarkozy. The detachment counts a team of evaluation and recognition of five people, twenty rescuers specialized in rescue and clearing and 14 m ³ of material.
19:40: Islamabad sets up funds of assistance at the victims to receive international financial aids, announces to the Prime Minister Pakistan board Shaukat Aziz in a maintenance with BBC.
19:50: " Nearly 200 soldiers Pakistani were tués" in the Pakistani Cashmere, the spokesperson of the Pakistani armed forces to public television channel PTV specifies.
19:55: UNO sends its first team of coordination in the disaster areas. Pakistan required the international assistance, indicates Elizabeth Byrs, spokesperson of the U.N. office with Geneva.
20:5: Israel establishes a " first contact" with the Indian authorities concerning their possible needs for assistance, learns one near the Israeli ministry from the Foreign affairs.
20:30: " The thoughts and the prayers of the president George W. Bush and the first lady Laura Bush are with the families and the friends of the victimes" , a spokesperson of the White House declares. The American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as for it, “offers all the necessary assistance” to the Prime Ministers for the Pakistan and the India.
20:30: Several thousands of people were killed with the Pakistani Cachemire, according to the spokesperson of the Pakistani armed forces, the Shaukat Sultan general.
20:35: At least 1.135 people were killed in the Province Border of the North-West of the Pakistan, announces the provincial general headquarter of the police force.
20:45: A team of 26 police officers of Abou Dhabi were sent to Pakistan to take part in research operations and of care to the casualties, pays the Wam official agency. It is about “the first operation overseas of such a scale” for the Emirates.
20:55: At least 1.700 people were killed in the Province Border of the North-West, affirms the chief of the police force of the province, Rifaat Pasha.
21:15: The German chancellor and the president, Gerhard Schröder and Horst Köhler, address their condolences to the Indian leaders and Pakistani, by them assuring that the Germany is at the sides of the thousands of victims.
21:20: UNICEF sent of the assistance to the government of Pakistan, announces the managing director of the organization, Ann Veneman. “Our priority is to send helps of survival. ” From the teams of the UNICEF will be deployed on the spot at the beginning of the office of the organization with Peshawar (north-western) starting from Sunday morning.
23:15: The president George W. Bush announces that a help of the the United States is in transport route for the victims of " horrible the tragédie" what knows the South Asia.

October 9th, 2005

2:30: Two Japan board, an employee of an organization of 36 year old development assistance and his/her two year old son, were killed with Islamabad, learns one from official source with Tōkyō.
4:20: More than eighteen thousand died with the Pakistan according to a military spokesman.
5 hours: " More than 18.000 people died and 41.000 people were blessées" , the spokesperson learns to us from the Pakistani armed forces, even if " the assessment remains provisoire". First aid starts to be dispatched.
5:10: At least 18.000 died in Asia of the South according to a spokesperson of the Pakistani army.
5:20: The Séisme represents " the greatest catastrophe in the history of Pakistan" , according to the spokesperson of the Pakistani armed forces, the Shaukat Sultan general.
6:5: The Great Britain sends rescue squads in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.
7:50: The Saudi Arabia and the Qatar announce emergency aid with the Pakistan.
8:20: The assessment would exceed the 25.000 dead ones in the Pakistani Cachemire, according to the Pakistani chain Aaj.
9:5: Five teams of first-aid workers Turkish left Sunday morning for the Pakistan: a team of the ministry for Health made up of 32 people and four of civil defense, red Crescent and army. Eleven tons of humanitarian aid are ready with the sending.
11:25: Some 45 counterparts of the initial jolt have been recorded for 12 midnight, again causing damage in the north of the country, according to the department of meteorology of Pakistan.
11:50: 583 died in only the Indian Cashmere, according to an Indian senior official.
11:55: The Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf lance a call to the international assistance. " We need financière" assistance; to face this tragédie". " We have very important requirements in drugs, tents and helicopters to reach people in the distant and cut areas monde" , he declared.
12:10: 19.136 died and 42.397 wounded with the Pakistan according to the ministry.
12:30: The Japan dispatched Sunday a team of 50 specialists in Pakistan in order to contribute to emergency aid operations.
12:50: The Queen of England expresses her " deep sympathie" with the president Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani people.
13 hours: The World Bank already offered to the Pakistan 20 million dollars of assistance. " The challenge is to coordinate this generosity to return it more efficace" , Paul Wolfowitz, the president of the institution underlined.
13:25: Sonia Gandhi, president of the party of the Congress to the capacity in India, went in the municipality of Uri, in the Indian Cachemire. " Whatever the help of which ayiez you need to rebuild your houses and your trade, the governments exchange and provincial you it fourniront" , she promises.
13:40: The Pakistan declares three days of mourning national.
13:45: Israel proposed its assistance with the Pakistan with which it does not have diplomatic relations, one near the Israeli ministry learns from the Foreign affairs.
14 hours: UNO reinforces its presence with the Pakistan. " Six additional members must arrive later in the journée" , declares Elisabeth Byrs spokesperson of the Office of the OCAH. The team already in place created units of coordination to Islamabad like with Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Pakistani Cachemire.
14:20: The Afghanistan announces the sending of 4 helicopters, 2 medical teams and two tons drugs to the close Pakistan. " The local Red Crescent also will dispatch of the assistance, of which food, later during the week prochaine" , according to the spokesperson of the Afghan presidency, Karim Rahimi.
14:30: The president Syria N Bachar el-Assad addresses a message of sympathy to his counterpart Pakistan board Pervez Musharraf. Bachar Al-Assad expresses its " major pain in front of information on the seism which made thousands of victims among the Pakistani people ami".
14:30: The Pape Benoît XVI declares with joined together crowd place St Pierre: " I request so that the international community is fast and generous in his answer to the catastrophe and I ask God to grant courage and forces it with those which are implied in aid operations and of reconstruction".
14:45: The Czech Republic plans to resolve a million dollars of assistance, if the decision is approved Wednesday at the time of the Council of Ministers specifies the Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek. Immediate sending, on the other hand, teams of rescuers. The Czech authorities are still without news of 6 or 7 their compatriots missing in a province to 300 km from the epicentre from the seism.
14:50: The European commission resolved an emergency aid of 3,6 million euros (4,3 million dollars) stressing that additional funds could be available quickly if necessary.
15 hours: The German Minister of Interior Department announces team sending of civil security (THW) to the Pakistan. Its 15 members, specialized in the search for victims at the time of the natural disasters, left with material localization and rescue.
15:30: A team of Russian first-aid workers left for Islamabad on board a plane Iliouchine 76, and a cargo of humanitarian aid will follow Monday indicates the Russian ministry of the Foreign affairs. The ministry for the Situations urgently specifies, as for him, that the dispatched team will be equipped with enough material rescue and medical equipment to work in an autonomous way.
15:30: The president of the the World Bank Paul Wolfowitz announces that its organization is ready to give a help of 20 million dollars (16,5 million euros) to the Pakistan.
15:35: The ONG start to be mobilized in France. The Islamic Help announces " the sending prochain" by plane of material of first urgency and a mission to evaluate the needs; first aid funds of 3 million euros was resolved and a call of emergency aid for 7 million euros is launched. The Catholic aid Caritas France resolves 100.000 euros for " to take part in the financing of the first initiatives" who will be organized by the Caritas network; it also launches a call to the gifts. The Fondation of France opened three accounts which can be supplied with accounts - checks. Médecins of the world declared has a team on the spot of the seism to evaluate the needs and Action against the hunger specified that one of its specialists, based to Kabul, was going to start a mission of evaluation.
15:40: The Pakistan board living with the United Arab Emirates have to make gifts with their compatriots of the struck country. " A center was opened with the consulate (from Pakistan in Dubai) to collect clothing, covers and drugs but also of the argent". Moreover " the consulate and the embassy made the provisions to grant passports and visas" , with the Pakistani and the abroads wanting to join their families or their close relations in the affected areas. Pakistan Business Council, organization of business men Pakistani says itself ready with " to bring its assistance to help (victims) catastrophe" and invites " its members and all the Pakistani as well as the brothers and the friends to bring a d'urgence" help; with the victims of the seism.
15:40: The China offered 6,2 million dollars of assistance to the Pakistan, according to a spokesperson of the Chinese ministry of the Foreign affairs quoted by the agency China Nouvelle.
15:50: Asian development bank (ADB) offers 10 million dollars of assistance to the most touched Pakistani areas and known as lends itself to give more, if the need were felt some.
16:15: The Denmark makes gift of 10 million Danish crowns (1,34 M EURO) to finance aid operations with the Pakistan, indicates the ministry for the Co-operation and the Development. Half of this sum will be allotted to the international Croix-Rouge and other half with the the United Nations, specifies the ministry which depends on the Danish ministry of the Foreign affairs.
17:15: Islamic Relief, an ONG Moslem woman based with Birmingham (center of England), allocates 2 million books (2,9 M EURO) for its emergency supplementary programme in Pakistan. Aziz Rajab-Ali, assistant editor of Islamic Relief, calls some with the generosity of the British.
17:45: The Sweden will send 75 large tents of survival and 3.000 covers to help the rescue squads to the Pakistan, announces the Swedish agency in charge of the helps.
17:50: the International federation of the Companies of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent announces to have sent a team of evaluation and help to Muzaffarabad, with the Pakistani Cachemire, area touched hard.
17:55: " More than 600 people found the mort" but " one has to expect that the assessment is weighed down, declares an high ranking official of the Indian government under cover of anonymity.
18:10: " Eight American military helicopters will take part in the operations of secours" , according to an official statement of the American embassy.
18:35: The Ministry for Foreign Affairs announces that the France will dispatch Monday with the Pakistan a medical team as well as drugs and systems of water purification.
19:20: The America " started to send money, equipment and others provisions" with the Pakistan, the president George W. Bush states.
19:25: The Pape Benoît XVI expresses his " deep tristesse" for the victims of the seism which has occurred Saturday in Asia of the south.
19:40: The French humanitarian organizations continue to mobilize themselves to come to assistance of the victims of the seism.
19:40: The Saudi Arabia, the Qatar and Bahrain urgently announces humanitarian aids with the Pakistan after the seism having also struck the India and the Afghanistan.
20:30: The coordinator of the humanitarian aid urgently of the UNO, Jan Egeland, declares that the Pakistan has an urgent need of helicopters to take part in the helps of the victims of the earthquake.
21:15: The recent natural disasters like the cyclones in the Gulf of Mexico or the seism with the Pakistan Saturday mark the End of the world and announce the imminent return of Jesus Christ, affirms on CNN the Télévangéliste American ultra-conservative Pat Robertson.
22:50: Thousands of people are taken of panic and leave their houses, after the advertisement by mosques of the area of new earth tremors awaited in the course of the day.

October 10th, 2005

2:35: The Japan urgently will send to the Pakistan a material aid of an amount of 25 million yens (180 000 euros) at the request of the authorities of Islamabad, brings back Monday the Japanese press, quoting government sources.
4:30: The international assistance is mobilized after the solemn appeal launched by the Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf following the violent one seism who made in only the Pakistan more than 19 000 dead confirmed, even 30.000 according to an estimate of the authorities.
4:35: American Islamic organizations launch calls to the gifts to come to assistance of the victims of the seism which struck the Asia South.

October 12th, 2005

5:12: Condoleezza Rice, the American Secretary of State arrives at Pakistan and announces

" I make a point of affirming with the Pakistani people that the international community and the United States are at its sides in these times difficiles" .

November 1st, 2005

Within the framework of the international assistance, the the United States already delivered 1.750 tons of vivres and affected 156 million dollars to the assistance with the disaster victims, 2 hospitals of countryside was installed; an airlift with transport aircraft of another nations of NATO is in hand; 20 Helicopter S of tranport of the US Army Aviation stationed in Afghanistan as 4 of the US Navy were dépéché to take part in the help, they evacuated 3.200 wounded to date, of the equipment of military Engineering stationed with the Kuwait were sent to Pakistan to help with the re-establishment of the roads in the disaster area.

November 11th, 2005

the assessment human for Pakistan provides to this date exceeds the 88.000 dead ones and the 100.000 wounded ones. 1.100 were amputee.

Pakistan received 211,2 million dollars from abroad for the people reached by earthquake while promises of 2336,4 million dollars of other countries were made up to now

1.200 soldiers of the United States are on the spot on this date to help the Help!.

November 19th, 2005

Pakistan succeeded in Saturday mobilizing the international community by obtaining givers of engagements of 5,4 billion dollars for the rebuilding after the seism of October 8th, for an announced objective of 5,2 billion.

" The approximate total that we reached until now is of 5,4 billion dollars" , the First Pakistani minister Shaukat Aziz with the conference closure affirmed which brought together the representatives of about fifty country, of ten international financial institutions and as many private organizations and groups.

The United Nations, on the basis of report/ratio carried out in particular by the World Bank, had quantified the needs to 5,2 billion dollars, and the general secretary of UNO Kofi Annan, which attended the beginning of the conference, had warmly and lengthily invited the international community to be generous. " Much (of these engagements) is in liquid, much in the form of privileged loans, and much is in kind " , the Prime Minister summarized by thanking the participants in the conference.

" I want to offer my deeper gratitude to the international community for his assistance in Pakistan in this hour of besoin" , affirmed for its part Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf in conclusion of the conference. " It is this common heritage of humanity which advances the pays" , he added.

The World Bank and the Asian development bank (BAD), which had directed the preliminary studies, brought each one a billion dollar, primarily in the forms of loans under preferential conditions. The Funds international currency (FMI) announced a contribution of 275 million dollars and the Islamic Bank of Development raised its engagement from 250,6 to 501,6 million dollars.

The United States offered an assistance of 510 million dollars, including 156 already engaged, to Islamabad, one of its ally-keys in its war against terrorism. Saudi Arabia announced an global envelope of about 340 million dollars - 153 M USD in gifts and 187 M USD in concessional loans - to which will be added several tens of million dollars within the framework of the Funds Saoudi of Development (SFD). China (300 million dollars) and Iran (200 million) also appear among the largest contributors.

The European Union began with height of 110 million dollars, like Germany (111,6 million, including 32,2 in cancellation of debts). Japan, Turkey, the United Kingdom have on their side announced of the promises of engagement higher than 100 million dollars, in various forms. France announced a contribution of 94 million dollars in the form of loans.

The United Arab Emirates (100 M USD), Netherlands (70 M USD), Swiss (40 M USD), Norway (35 M USD), Spain (23 M USD), Sweden (20 M USD), Canada (16 M USD), Australia (15 M USD) and Finland (11 M USD) also committed themselves taking part in the rebuilding of the affected zones, of a surface equal to that of Belgium. Other countries, like Denmark, Greece, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan announced contributions plus symbolic systems. The Foundation Aga Khan for its part has advanced a contribution of 50 million dollars.

December 15th, 2005

The general secretary of UNO Kofi Annan named Thursday the old US president George Herbert Walker Bush at the station of special correspondent for the earthquake which struck the South Asia

As a special correspondent, it will represent the general secretary and the system of the United Nations within the framework of the national efforts and international to meet the needs related to the earthquake which struck the South Asia on October 8th

Touched countries

Afghanistan

The jolt sowed panic in the capital Kabul and several cities of the east and the North-East. The ministry for the Interior estimated however in middle of day that the damage was not wide in the country.

Little information arrives from Afghanistan. A civil servant of Jalalabad, in the east of the country, indicated that at least two children were killed and several destroyed houses.

India

Thousands of frightened inhabitants fled their residences. Inhabitants of New Delhi were taken of panic at the time of the jolt and left in the streets.

The seism made 1.360 died in only the Indian Cachemire.

The majority of the victims perished in the districts of Baramulla and Kupwara, along the " Line of control " (LoC), border in fact which separates the Indian Cachemire from the Cashmere under Pakistani control, and source of tensions since decades between the two countries.

Pakistan

The phone lines are cut or overloaded, which isolates certain areas. The most serious news comes from the mountainous areas of the north of the countries, difficult of access, destroyed villages, shaven houses and of tens of victims are brought back by the rare local police officers who could be contacted.

The helps always try to come to assistance of the residents wedged under the debris from a building collapsed in the capital Islamabad.

With the Cashmere under Pakistani administration, more than 75.000 died and 77.000 wounded was recorded. Among those, some 11.000 people found death in the capital of the Pakistani cashmere, Muzaffarabad, and its surroundings. More in the west, in the mountains of Hindu Kuch depend on the Province-Border of the North-West (NWFP), a total of 1.760 people were killed and 1.797 wounded. 3,5 million people is without shelter.

Provisional appraisal

As for any catastrophe of scale, the assessment of the victims is given as an indication, the figures being certainly inaccurate overall estimates.

Here the detail of the assessments, country by country (the figures are not final):

Assessment of the Tuesday the 1st er November 2005.

See too

Internal bond

List of the earthquakes

External bond

File seism of October 8th, 2005 of the Humane Gate

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