Death Toll in Asian Quake Rises to 18,000

-- British rescue workers on scene

More than 18,300 people are now known to have died in the huge quake that hit Pakistan and India - and the death toll is expected to rise further.

Bodies have been laying in the streets and villagers pulling debris from collapsed schools and mud-brick homes with their bare hands, desperate to find survivors amid the rubble.

Pakistan's private Aaj television has reported a death toll in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and northwest Pakistan of more than 25,000. Officials have said the toll will rise.

The 7.6-magnitude quake that struck on Saturday in the mountainous Kashmir region flattened dozens of villages and triggered landslides that blocked rescuers from reaching many devastated areas.

The severest destruction was in Pakistan and Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said more than 18,020 people died - 17,155 of them in Pakistani Kashmir, where the quake was centred.

Some 41,000 people were injured, he said.

Authorities in India reported 360 deaths and 900 people injured, while Afghanistan also reported at least one death.

Sultan said the death toll in Pakistan was expected to rise, and that authorities there had confirmed the toll so far by counting bodies.

Some 215 Pakistani soldiers were among the dead, and 414 soldiers were injured, he said.

"We are handling the worst disaster in Pakistan's history," Sultan said.

The earthquake, which struck just before 9am local time, caused buildings to sway for about a minute in the capitals of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India - an area some 625 miles across.

People ran from homes and offices, and communications were cut to many areas.

Aftershocks rattled the region for hours afterwards, and hospitals moved quake victims on to lawns, fearing tremors could cause more damage.

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Hmm, looks like I've got some calls to make. A few of my associates are Indian militants.

I live in Islamabad, last two days have been stressfull and nerve recking to say the least.

Sorry Scribbler my geography leaves alot to be desired, were you affected by the earthquakes, are you and your family alright?

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Praying for all, you and your family included scribbller!

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I wish you and offcourse the others good luck dealing with it.

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Well heard from all my contacts. All of them are fine.

That's great gprime.

Has anyone come across a charity for this online that we could promote here to raise some relief?

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More Than 30,000 Confirmed Dead in Quake

More than 30,000 people are now confirmed dead following Saturday's huge earthquake in South Asia.

Pakistan described the quake as the country's worst-ever disaster and appealed for urgent help.

The vast majority of the deaths from Saturday's magnitude 7.6 quake were in Pakistan.

Neighbouring India reported several hundred.

Many of those who died in the Pakistan-controlled portion of Kashmir were students, said Tariq Mahmmod, communications minister for the region.

"I have been informed by my department that more than 30,000 people have died in Kashmir," he said.

Earlier, Pakistan's interior minister, Aftab Khan Sherpao had said 42,397 were injured.

The worst-hit city was Pakistani Kashmir's capital, Muzaffarabad, where 11,000 died, Sherpao said.

Authorities in India reported 465 deaths and more than 900 people injured, while Afghanistan reported at least four deaths.

In a message to Pakistan's President, General Pervez Musharraf, the Queen said: "I was shocked to hear of the devastating earthquake which has caused such destruction and loss of life in Pakistan.

"I send my heartfelt sympathy to you and the people of Pakistan, especially to the bereaved and injured and all who have been affected by this terrible disaster."

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Donate to christian aid now to provide relief to the victims of these earthquakes

https://secure.poptech.coop/caid/default.asp?sID=66

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