At least 20,000 dead in south Asia earthquake

Over 20,000 people are now feared dead following yesterday's powerful earthquake in south Asia.

At least 19,000 deaths have been confirmed in northern Pakistan, prompting President Pervez Musharaf to call for international assistance.

Rescue experts, medical teams, sniffer dogs and supplies are en route to the region as a worldwide effort to bring aid to victims of the massive earthquake gets underway.

The quake, measuring at least 7.6 on the Richter scale, was centred in Kashmir, and is believed to have been the most devastating tremor to hit the region in 100 years.

The first earthquake was followed by 18 aftershocks of magnitudes of between 4.6 and 6.3 over the next 10 hours.

The tremors were felt as far away as the Afghan capital, Kabul and India's capital, Delhi. 

The quake struck close to the dividing line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled zones of the disputed Himalayan region, triggering deadly landslides that wiped out whole villages.

The divided territory of Kashmir is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan.

Pakistan

The vast majority of the dead are in the Pakistani controlled part of the disputed zone.

The earthquake's epicentre was close to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The majority of buildings in the area have been razed to the ground.

Rescuers are attempting to reach 850 children trapped in the rubble of two schools in the Northwest Frontier Province.

Many of the cheaply-built concrete schools in the region collapsed, prompting fears that many children may have lost their lives. UNICEF has described the situation in the area as 'grim'.

The earthquake may have left two to three million people homeless and adequate winter shelter is being sought for the survivors.

With the area's infrastructure destroyed, local authorities and aid agencies are seeking to provide water and sanitation in the affected areas. 

Meanwhile, rescuers worked through the night in the ruins of the upmarket Margala Towers residential complex in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.  90 people have been pulled alive from the rubble and 35 bodies were recovered. The tower blocks were the only buildings to collapse in Islamabad.

India

Indian officials have reported over 689 deaths in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Some 250 bodies had been discovered in the frontier town of Kupwara, and officials have warned that the death toll could rise further.

The town of Uri, close to the line that separates divided Kashmir, was also badly hit, with over 300 dead. Over 1,500 houses were destroyed in the town, which has a population of about 30,000.

There were also reports of some casualties in towns and villages in southern Afghanistan.

Emergency services in the region are working to restore electricity and water supplies.

The Indian air force has deployed a fleet of cargo and transport planes as well as heavy-lift helicopters in the wake of the disaster. 

Cold rain blanketed the Himalayan region overnight as thousands sought makeshift shelter and scarce supplies of food and bedding.

Aid

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for greater international help in the relief effort. Mr Musharraf made an urgent appeal for money and helicopters to get aid to the worst affected areas.

An eight-member UN team has begun co-ordinating the relief effort in the hardest hit areas, with teams from Turkey, China, Britain and Germany already on the ground.

A spokesperson for the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs said field hospitals, water purification and blankets were badly needed.

The United States, which is conducting military operations in Afghanistan, has said it will provide eight military helicopters to get emergency relief to affected communities and two C-130 transport planes.

The World Bank has pledged $20m in relief funds for Pakistan to help deal with the devastation.

As more UN teams travel to south Asia, UN agencies, the Red Cross and other aid organisations plan to meet in Geneva tomorrow to co-ordinate international relief efforts.

The Taoiseach has been in contact with the heads of government of the countries affected by the disaster. Bertie Ahern said Ireland would assist in whatever way possible with the international relief effort.

He also announced an initial donation of €1m for the relief operation.