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A Killer Quake

Spanish Translation

By Andrea Delbanco

The Earth's crust trembled on October 8. At 8:50 a.m., a devastating earthquake rocked several countries in South Asia. Within minutes, thousands of lives were lost and entire villages were shattered. Tremors from the crushing quake were felt in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Officials fear that the death toll could top 40,000.

The earth shifted along an active fault line, where massive pieces of the planet's crust collide. These plates move at a rate of about 1.6 inches a year. A sudden, violent slip between the grinding plates created the massive quake. Strong aftershocks rocked the region for days.

The worst damage was done in northern Pakistan. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Muzaffarabad, in Kashmir, a troubled mountainous region that is controlled by both India and Pakistan.

Survivors search the wreckage of a destroyed building in Islambad, Pakistan's capital.

A Crushing Blow
"It was so strong that I saw buildings swaying. It was terrifying," said Hari Singh, who works near New Delhi, India's capital. Big apartment buildings in many cities collapsed during the quake, and entire villages were destroyed in some rural areas.

The search for survivors lasted days after the quake. Some affected areas are hard to reach even in the best of conditions. Stormy weather slowed rescue efforts. Landslides blocked roads, and heavy rain made it difficult for planes to land.

Rescue workers were unable to travel to some isolated mountain villages. Even in cities, millions of survivors were stranded without food, water, shelter and electrical power. "I can't wait for the food to be distributed properly," said Ali Khan, a construction worker in Muzaffarabad. "I need it desperately, and I'll take it."

The quake also damaged hospitals and left people without clean drinking water. Health officials fear that unsanitary conditions could lead to the spread of disease.

Working Together
When the weather cleared, trucks, helicopters and planes delivered food, water and medical supplies to the hardest hit areas. The hospitals that were still standing opened their doors to care for thousands of injured survivors.

About 30 countries took part in the relief effort. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Pakistan. "The United States stands with its friends in Pakistan and India, just as they stood with us after Hurricane Katrina," she said.

India and Pakistan have a history of bitter rivalry. They have fought for decades over who should control the troubled Kashmir region. Recently, the two countries have tried to improve their relationship. After the earthquake, India offered help to harder-hit Pakistan. Pakistan accepted India's aid. The two nations will try to put aside their differences to work together to bring relief to the ravaged region.

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