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Over 20,000 Die in Pakistan Earthquake

HeadlineOct 10, 2005

At least 20,000 people have died in Pakistan and India in a massive earthquake Saturday. Hardest hit was the area around the Pakistani Kashmir capital of Muzaffarabad. It is believed to be the worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s history. The official death toll stands at about 20,000 but officials fear the final number could exceed 40,000. Entire towns have been destroyed. Roads remain blocked. Schools and hospitals have been leveled. Thousands of children are believed to have died after their schools collapsed. A Pakistani military spokesman said “It is a whole generation that has been lost in the worst affected areas.” Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made a plea for international help Agence France Press reports survivors are facing an array of problems —- freezing overnight temperatures, rain, landslides, scarce food, little shelter, no communications networks and almost non-existent healthcare. The earthquake’s epicenter was close to the dividing line between the Indian— and Pakistani-controlled zones of Kashmir. We’ll go to Pakistan for a report in a few minutes.

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